Exercise Vanguard 1993
1st – 3rd September
Seven A-4K’s and one Ta-4K departed on time for the first stop at RAN Nowra. A quick turn around by the 2 Squadron ground crew and the aircraft departed for Townsville.
FLTLT Alderton in NZ 6216 had a main generator failure causing both himself and FLTLT MacLeod to return to Nowra where they remained overnight and catching up with the squadron the next day prior to their departure to Darwin. Next day two legs were flown, Darwin to Surabaya, a quick stop to refuel an then on to Kuantan with all Skyhawks and support aircraft at the final destination on time.
4th
Unpack and settle into Southern Operational Readiness Platform on RMAF Base Kuatan. All aircrew attended a jungle survival exercise in the afternoon with demonstrations held in the jungle surrounding the Air Base.
In the evening WGCMD M Richardson (RAF) arrived from the UK for an operational evaluation of the squadron.
6th
First day of flying involved pairs navigation sorties to RMAF Butterworth (primary divert) and low level over the jungle and onto the Penor weapons range just to the south of Kuantan.
NZ 6251 struck by lighting while on the line in the afternoon. After a thorough check and test flight the aircraft returned to service two days later.
Seven A-4K’s and one Ta-4K departed on time for the first stop at RAN Nowra. A quick turn around by the 2 Squadron ground crew and the aircraft departed for Townsville.
FLTLT Alderton in NZ 6216 had a main generator failure causing both himself and FLTLT MacLeod to return to Nowra where they remained overnight and catching up with the squadron the next day prior to their departure to Darwin. Next day two legs were flown, Darwin to Surabaya, a quick stop to refuel an then on to Kuantan with all Skyhawks and support aircraft at the final destination on time.
4th
Unpack and settle into Southern Operational Readiness Platform on RMAF Base Kuatan. All aircrew attended a jungle survival exercise in the afternoon with demonstrations held in the jungle surrounding the Air Base.
In the evening WGCMD M Richardson (RAF) arrived from the UK for an operational evaluation of the squadron.
6th
First day of flying involved pairs navigation sorties to RMAF Butterworth (primary divert) and low level over the jungle and onto the Penor weapons range just to the south of Kuantan.
NZ 6251 struck by lighting while on the line in the afternoon. After a thorough check and test flight the aircraft returned to service two days later.
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7th
A day of pair and four ship navigation sorties over the Malaysian jungle and into the Penor range for the Academic weapons with low drag deliveries.
8th
FLTLT’s Perry, Niles, WGCMDR Howse and FO Turner flew the first Starfish serial for the exercise. The second serial was flown by FLTLT Gilchrist and FO Easthope. Remaining squadron members flew a fourship simstrike with a pair bounce.
A day of pair and four ship navigation sorties over the Malaysian jungle and into the Penor range for the Academic weapons with low drag deliveries.
8th
FLTLT’s Perry, Niles, WGCMDR Howse and FO Turner flew the first Starfish serial for the exercise. The second serial was flown by FLTLT Gilchrist and FO Easthope. Remaining squadron members flew a fourship simstrike with a pair bounce.
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9th to 11th
The Squadron continued with Navigation Simstrike sorties and the Academic Weapons at Penor. These weapons were assessed for the squadron operational evaluation. Scoring at Penor was rather archaic which did not assist the scoring for the assessment. Starfish serials involving fourships continued over the three days.
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