Workhorse - RAAF C-130s

Workhorse - RAAF C-130s - E18 - Floods, Hay Bales, and Tracy - with Tony Ryan

December 07, 2023 Bill 'K9' Kourelakos Episode 18
Workhorse - RAAF C-130s - E18 - Floods, Hay Bales, and Tracy - with Tony Ryan
Workhorse - RAAF C-130s
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Workhorse - RAAF C-130s
Workhorse - RAAF C-130s - E18 - Floods, Hay Bales, and Tracy - with Tony Ryan
Dec 07, 2023 Episode 18
Bill 'K9' Kourelakos

Retired Warrant Officer and Flight Engineer Tony Ryan features in this episode which focuses on domestic Australian Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the early 1970s. 

The large-scale floods of early 1971 and 1974 rivalled the floods of 2022. The ADF response was wide-ranging, including major commitments by RAAF C-130s and the introduction of hay bale dropping. 

Cyclones Althea (one of the biggest to ever hit Townsville) and Tracy (devastated Darwin) are also covered. In particular, the Cyclone Tracy response involved 19 C-130s and included very long crew days and a few interesting tales.


Show Notes

Retired Warrant Officer and Flight Engineer Tony Ryan features in this episode which focuses on domestic Australian Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the early 1970s. 

The large-scale floods of early 1971 and 1974 rivalled the floods of 2022. The ADF response was wide-ranging, including major commitments by RAAF C-130s and the introduction of hay bale dropping. 

Cyclones Althea (one of the biggest to ever hit Townsville) and Tracy (devastated Darwin) are also covered. In particular, the Cyclone Tracy response involved 19 C-130s and included very long crew days and a few interesting tales.