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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1974
R.H.K.A.A.F. ANNUAL CAMP
TO BE VISITED BY ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY
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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR. H.M.A. BRISTOW, WILL VISIT THE 25TH ANNUAL CAMP OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AT DODWELL'S RIDGE, FANLING, ON THURSDAY COCTOBER 100..
THE RHKAAF HAS NOW BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 25 YEARS AND HAS A RECORD OF WHICH ANY AIR FORCE IN THE WORLD WOULD BE PROUD AND WHICH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED LARGELY BY AUXILIARY PILOTS. PERHAPS THE MOST REMARKABLE OPERATION IN THE FORCE HISTORY WAS THE RESCUE IN 1965 OF 43 CREWMEN OF THE PANAMANIAN FREIGHTER NAM AN. ONE A.F.C.. ONE B.E.M., AND 3 QUEEN'S COMMENDATIONS WERE AWARDED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESCUE AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.
THE RHKAAF HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY BUSY WITH ROUTINE GOVERNMENT TASKS, SUCH AS THE FLY ING OF SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO OUTLYING AREAS. THE AIR-SURVEY CAMERA FITTED IN THE FORCE'S TWO ENGINED ISLANDER AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN USED FOR MAKING THE ESSENTIAL SPECIALIST PLANS FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE NEW TOWNS, AND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS. THE ISLANDER ALSO TRAINS KAI TAK AIRPORT'S RADAR OPERATORS, AND PROVIDES HONG KONG WITH AN IMPROVED +SEARCH AND RESCUE+ CAPACITY AT SEA. ITS THREE ALOUETTE MK !IT} HELICOPTERS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR +MERCY FLIGHTS+, KNOWN AS +CASEVACS+, FROM REMOTE VILLAGES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, DAY AND NIGHT.
ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE RHKAAF MEMBERS ARE FULL TIME GOVERNMENT SERVANTS, INCLUDING CLERICAL AND ENGINEERING STAFF, AND THREE PILOTS. THE REMAINDER ARE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 12 PILOTS AND THREE CADET/PILOTS. ACTIVE MEMBERS IN THE IR 25TH YEAR OF SERVICE INCLUDE: ACTING SQUADRON LEADER L.M. SOUZA (FROM THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT), AND FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GEORGE LI KAI FUN (FROM THE ROYAL SWEDISH CONSULATE GENERAL).
THE RHKAAF ANNUAL CAMP RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER 19 TO OCTOBER 11, AT DODWELL'S RIDGE, FANLING, UNDER ITS COMMANDING OFFICER WING COMMANDER S.P.J. ELLIS CA LECTURER IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY), ASSISTED BY SQUADRON LEADER D.K. CHEUNG, A.F.C., O.C. FLYING CAN ENGINEER OF HONG KONG AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING CO., LTD.).