• RAAF Airman Aircrew ~ Simply The Best ....
  • Boeing Globemaster C17-A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Alenia Spartan C-27J ~ 35 Squadron ....
  • Airbus A330 ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 707-338C ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing E-7A Hawkeye ~ 2 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130J ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130H ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130E ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Pacific Aerospace CT4 ~ 1 Flying Training School ....
  • Bombardia Challenger CL604 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Beechcraft King Air 350 ~ 32 Squadron ....
  • BAC1-11 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 737 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Bell Iroquois UH-1H ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • De Havilland Caribou DHC-4 ~ 38 Squadron ....
  • Boeing Chinook CH-47 ~ 12 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Orion P3 ~ 11 Squadron ....
  • Sikorski Blackhawk UH-60 ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • Douglas DC3 ~ Aircraft Research and Development Unit ....
  • Pilatus PC9 ~ 2 Flying Training School ....
  • Aermacchi MB-326H ~ Roulettes ....

Vale - Sacha Gaston Arno LENOBLE, A136858, General Hand ....

Sacha completed Year 12 in 1998 after which he joined the Army Reserve undergoing his recruit training at Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane.  Following this, he went on to complete a gunnery course and was posted to 104 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, Enoggera, where he remained until February 2000.  It was in March 2000 that Sacha joined the RAAF as a trainee Air Surveillance Operator (ASOP), and on completion of recruit training, was posted to Williamtown to undergo his ASOP training.  Unfortunately, Sacha did not graduate from the ASOP course and was subsequently remustered to general hand and posted to 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (114MCRU), Darwin.

In January 2003, Sacha was posted to Richmond where he worked in the Air Lift Group Systems Program Office (ALSPO), then in 2005, he applied for, and was accepted into Australia's Federation Guard, located in Canberra, where he remained until December 2006.  While with the Federation Guard, Sacha advanced to the Precision Drill Team which he enjoyed immensely.

To be located closer to his parents in Brisbane, Sacha had a preference to be posted to Amberley, and this was fulfilled in January 2007 when he was posted to 1 Air Transportable Hetitleh Squadron.  Here, Sacha worked in the audiogram section where he performed aural testing on aircrew and others requiring such testing.  Sacha enjoyed this work, particularly when testing pilots, who he would colloquially advise that they could not continue flying when their hearing test did not meet the required standard.  Sacha's humour!

Sacha had set himself goals for advancement in the RAAF and had completed Certificates I, II and III in Business Management at Penrith TAFE.  Sacha also had a keen interest in flying and dearly wanted to pursue his aim of becoming a pilot in the RAAF.  Prior to joining the ADF, Sacha obtained his private pilot's licence (PPL) with Flight Training Australia at Archerfield, Brisbane.  In fact, he got his PPL before he obtained his driver's licence.  Due to the high cost of flying lessons and other associated activities in association with his flying training, Sacha's parents were unable to continue their financial support for his training.  This increased Sacha's determination to join the RAAF to fulfil his ambitions.

Sadly, it was at Amberley where Sacha lost his life in a motor vehicle crash on Tuesday 5th June 2007 while driving in torrential rain.  He was in his beloved 1997 Toyota Supra.  Sacha's ashes were reverently dispersed from a Caribou aircraft over Cunningham's Gap on the Friday 19th October, 2007.

R.I.P. Sacha.


Sacha's Last Ride, 38 Squadron, 19 October 2007.