• 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 ....

A20-627, 1st Full-Freighter Richmond to Butterworth, 12 July 1983 ....

The cargo was Mirage DEFA cannon ammunition.  Cannot recall the A/C all-up weight, but it was close to the maximum payload.  Hence a fuel stop required at Darwin.  It must have been deafening for the residents of Richmond as the heavy B707 climbed-out over the township on the morning of departure.

A mishap occurred at Butterworth while unloading when a 10,000lb pallet toppled from the pallet lift which was at cargo floor level.  The pallet landed on its edge and rested against a forklift.  The operator, a local, jumped from the forklift and bolted as the load headed his way.  Anyone else would have done the same!  Thankfully no one injured and no explosion, but many of the canisters were damaged as was the cargo net and pallet.

Loadmasters: FSGTs Bryan Carpenter and Lance Haslewood.  A/C captain, CO, WGCDR Dave Grierson.