There’s something in the air
Townsville has had a long love affair with flying machines, and while some were not so welcome, for many residents hearing the roar of militairy aircraft is a favourite time of year
Other than the Mossies, a few thousand fruit bats from Dans Gardens, and cattle ship aromas, we love what we see in the air!
Not only the rainbow Lorikeets, and kites, we have the pleasure of seeing and hearing mighty Military aircraft, and unlike many other cities in the world, we don’t even have to duck and hide.
Over the years we’ve seen the B52’s in our skies, not the band, big Russian jets I can’t spell, the US F 15s and other flash flying thingos here for Skyshows, even the RAAF balloon, which had a most unfortunate landing in muddy waters before it was Fairfield’s Waters! I know because I was in it, or actually out if it, quickly .
We see our history in our mighty RAAF gate guards, Louie the Huey, Kenny Carabou, Nippy Neptune, and maybe one day Bluey Blackhawke.
Perfect for if theres defence cuts, we can get a few new elastic bands and fly them again, or train up a few angry Brolgas.
Every week something new, look at the mighty Super Galaxy that brought the new Chinooks, huge, as it touched down at Garbutt, the locals in Giru were still waving at it (Though the last plane they saw was Charles Kingsford Smiths).
Now those amazing F 35 Lightening jets from 77 Squadron.
Thanks to Wing Commander Tim Ireland we have a short air display down the Strand tomorrow, about 5.15, perfect for after work and to bring the kids. Strand park you can meet the pilots and our mates from recruitment, so you can sign up and be whipping around
Mount Stuart in an F 35 by the end of the week. How the story has changed in a generation, I wonder what Kiyoshi Mizukura would have thought seeing those F 35’s, when he
came and bombed this city, exactly 80 years ago next week.
He’d flown all the way from Rabaul in the Emily Flying boat to do damage to our port.
He missed by the way, there was rumour about a dingo being in the wrong place, but apparently the only casualty was a palm tree.
As we watch these incredible aircraft, maybe we should spare a thought for the Townsvillians of exactly 80 years ago, who learnt that war had come to their wonderful home in the tropics.
True we had little damage over the three raids, other than that palm tree now in the grounds of the Oasis, the crater is still there, but thanks our great historian Ray Holyoak, he found things may have been different.
Apparently there were plans two days before the battle of the coral sea to bring 120 aircraft from 2 carriers, 6 destroyers and two cruisers to attack Townsville.
Incredible history, and now 80 years on, a new generation of Flight, the F 35’s, and we get to see them, wave, meet the pilots, and enjoy watching what they can do in our clear winter skies.
What a truly wonderful time in our great city, Australian Festival of chamber Music next week, and tonight, absolutely fantastic, enjoy the round ball footy at our Stadium, welcome Brissy Roar and Aston Villa.
Happy days ooroo