It was in the sky for NATO during the September 19 incursion of Russian jet fighters into Estonian airspace, and when Russian missiles and drones bombarded Ukraine in record numbers on September 28. It flew 45 missions.
“To be able to communicate is a big success,” Corporal Jonathan Zingle, another of the RAAF crew, says. Like Allen, he has a talent for understatement. Anyone who’s cursed their Wi-Fi will be impressed with an expert who can connect an Australian aircraft to NATO squadrons and ground staff at high speed, in flight, over secure channels.
An E-7A Wedgetail aircraft at RAAF Williamtown.Credit: Royal Australian Air Force
One of the pilots, Flight Lieutenant Georgia Crean, says the work is mentally demanding, and not only because they have to be ready to fly at any moment and stay alert for long hours. They are conscious of the conflict in Ukraine below. “It’s at the forefront of all of our minds.”
Crean never expected to be flying over Europe. She grew up wanting to be a journalist – inspired, she says, by cub reporter Rory Gilmore on The Gilmore Girls – and only discovered the RAAF when she kept a schoolmate company on a visit to an Australian Defence Force recruiting centre.
“I walked in with absolutely no intent to do aviation,” she says. “And they welcomed me with open arms. They took me to Tamworth and I flew for two weeks, and my first ever flight in Tamworth was one of the most incredible experiences.” She was flying a CT/4 trainer and was hooked.
“In the space of three months, I decided that aviation was my path. I would love for aviation to be pushed to more females, because I don’t think it’s at the forefront of many girls’ minds in high school.”
I wrote briefly about the Wedgetail operation earlier, but I wanted to write more about the crew. It is rare to speak directly to ADF members about their work, and the Wedgetail team shows that Australia remains connected to the war in Europe. Unfortunately, without a ceasefire, it is only a matter of time before NATO asks for another Australian deployment.
There has been no major Australian pledge so far this year to give Ukraine any additional help. The last big commitment, announced last year, was to send 49 Abrams M1A1 tanks worth $245 million. The Australian support looks too modest when European allies have been increasing their support for Ukraine this year with more money and weapons.
But there’s no doubt about the commitment from the 90 personnel in the RAAF deployment.
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Crean is from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Zingle is from Penrith in western Sydney and Allen is from Wangaratta in country Victoria. In a sense, they are recent examples of the Australians who have served in Europe over more than a century in peace and war. We’ll be reminded of that history at the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Europe next week.
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