When I was a Tech on No. 2 Sqn (A-4K Skyhawks) and posted in Australia for a few years, this bloke came through to do his conversion training from our trainer jets to the Skyhawks as a Flying Officer. We were a small unit away from home and exercised around Aussie regularly. As such, the pilots and ground crew socialised together freely, which isn't always the case when back home. I've had more than a couple of beers with this bloke. His nickname on Sqn was 'Boomer', but for the life of me I can't remember why.
When the Strike Wing of the New Zealand AIr Force was disbanded, a handful of pilots went to the RAF and RAAF (Australian Air Force). That was when I got out as well and moved back to Australia as a civi. Good to see he is still flying hard and enjoying his career.
