Oral Histories – Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group

About the Oral History Program

Andrew Whittaker talks about the oral history program, the importance of talking, mates, history and eulogies delivered by the Keith Payne VC Veterans’ Benefit Group.

Ian “Spike” Jones

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1958
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Firefly, Sycamore, Sea Venom, Vampire, Gannet, Skyhawk, Turana UAV
Years served: 20

Brian Carroll

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1949
Specialisation: Aviation Safety Equipment
Aircraft worked on: All Navy fixed-wing from Firefly to Skyhawk, Sycamore, Wessex, Sea King
Years served: 28

John “Jack” Constantine

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1945
Specialisations: Gunnery & Air Weapons Fitter
Aircraft worked on: Firefly, Sea Fury, Gannet, Wessex, Skyhawk
Years served: 25

Robert “Bob” Brown

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1951
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (avionics & electrical)
Aircraft worked on: various from Sea Fury to Tracker
Years served: 24

Renald “Mak” Makila

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1962
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Wessex, Sea King, Iroquois, Macchi, Skyhawk
Years served: 20

Andrew Whittaker

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1976
Specialisations: Observer (Aviation Warfare Officer) & Pilot
Aircraft qualified on: HS748, Tracker, CT4, Macchi, Iroquois, Wessex, Wasp, Squirrel, Kiowa, Seahawk
Years served: 37 Permanent & 4 Reserves

Darryl Kelly

Joined the Australian Army: 1977
Specialisation: Artillery
Guns qualified on: 105mm M2A2 Howitzer, 155mm M198 Howitzer, 105mm M118/M119 Gun Howitzer
Years served: 39 Regular & 5 Reserves

Grahame Morrison

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1963
Specialisation: Aircraft Handler
Aircraft worked with: Sea Venom, Gannet, Wessex, Sea King, Tracker, Skyhawk
Years served: 22

Andrew “Little Pincher” Martin

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1979
Specialisations: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines) & Aircrewman
Aircraft qualified on: Wessex, Sea King, Iroquois, Kiowa, Squirrel, MRH90 Taipan
Years served: 34

John “Jack” Martin & Helen “Hoppy” Martin

John “Jack” Martin

Joined the Royal Australian Air Force: 1953
Specialisations: Motor Transport Fitter & Motor Transport Driver
Years served: 23

Helen “Hoppy” Martin

Joined the Royal Australian Air Force: 1955
Specialisation: Clerk (Administration)
Years served: 2

David “Dave” Biddle

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1979
Specialisations: Aviation Safety Equipment, Coxwain & Naval Police Coxwain
Ships served in: Melbourne (II), Tobruk, Dubbo, Success, Kanimbla, Sydney (IV)
Years served: 42

Rick Meehan

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1979
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Wessex, Sea King, Seahawk
Years served: 30

Fredrick “Fred” Campbell

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1982
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Iroquois, Kiowa, Squirrel, Seahawk
Years served: 36

Colin “Col” Liddicoat

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1964
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Wessex, Kiowa
Years served: 20

Gary Tearle

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1961
Specialisation: Fire Fighter
Ships served in: Diamantina, Sydney (III),
Melbourne (II)
Years served: 20

Terence “Terry” Hetherington

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1966
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Iroquois, Dakota, Tracker, Seahawk
Years served: 20 Permanent & 24 Reserves

Linton “Dixie” Lee

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1979
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Iroquois, Kiowa, Squirrel, Seahawk
Years served: 42

Helen Purtscher

Joined the Australian Army: 1984
Specialisation: Dental Hygienist
Units/bases worked at: 16 Treatment Section (Townsville), 9 Dental (Brisbane), Oakey, Holdsworthy, Karratha
Years served: 6.5

Ian “Tiny” Warren

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1962
Specialisations: Aircraft Technician (airframes & engines)
Aircraft worked on: Firefly, Dakota, Sea Venom, Vampire, Wessex, Iroquois, Kiowa
Years served: 33 Permanent & 20 Reserves

Keith “Rabbit” Boundy

Joined the Royal Australian Navy Reserves: 1991
Specialisations: Aircraft Technician (communications), Intelligence & Management Executive
Aircraft worked on: Seahawk, plus RAN Historic Flight & Historic Aircraft Restoration Society – Scout, Firefly, Iroquois, Dakota, Tracker
Years served: 32 Reserves

Tim Marshall

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1967
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (communications)
Aircraft worked on: Sea Venom, Macchi, Skyhawk
Years served: 12

Dick Martin

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1956
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (communications)
Aircraft worked on: Auster, Sea Fury, Firefly, Sea Venom, Vampire, Gannett, Dakota, Wessex, Tracker, Skyhawk, Iroquois, Sea King, Jindivik (PTA)
Years served: 26

Peter Kerr

Joined the Royal Australian Navy: 1977
Specialisation: Aircraft Technician (avionics)
Aircraft worked on: Macchi, Skyhawk, Iroquois, Kiowa, Squirrel, HS748, Seahawk, Super Sea Sprite
Years served: 23 Permanent & 25+ Reserves