Step back in time this summer with our early Service Newspapers, which capture the spirit of Australia's armed forces and the society they served.
Defence is funding the digitisation of these historic editions in Trove, giving every Australian the chance to explore the collection.
The most damaging floods in Australian history have once more demonstrated the ability of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to serve the Australian community in times of civil emergency.
Faced with disastrous flooding, which inundated huge areas of the continent, the RAAF responded with the greatest emergency flood relief effort in its history.
RAAF helicopters and Caribou, Hercules and Dakota air transports rescued hundreds of men, women and children from the threat of drowning.
Thousands were fed and clothed by airlift; whole town populations were flown out to higher ground; communities cut off by road and rail were sustained with fuel, food and supplies as well as equipment to battle the floods, while starving cattle and sheep were fed with airdropped fodder.
RAAF Iroquois helicopters flew the sick and injured to medical aid centres. At Broken Hill, they substituted for Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft.
The fixed-wing aircraft of this service were unable to land at many isolated homesteads because of the inundation of landing fields.
The RAAF helicopters were called in and crews well-versed in aeromedical evacuation techniques brought in the sick and injured.
The massive RAAF mercy effort was sustained by elements of eight squadrons and their dedicated air and ground crews, backed by thousands of RAAF servicemen in supporting roles.
The aircraft operated out of RAAF bases in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as from scores of airfields in country areas.
By early February, RAAF Hercules and Caribou transport aircraft had airlifted about four million pounds of freight to the flood areas.
The Hercules of 36 Squadron, assisted by 37 Squadron and the Caribou aircraft of 35 and 38 Squadrons also airdropped more than 21,000 bales of hay and carried out 800 sorties, involving 1060 hours flying time.
During this period, the Caribou crews carried 800 passengers and the Hercules carried 180 passengers.
5 and 9 Squadrons Iroquois helicopters carried out 54 aeromedical evacuations and airlifted 232,000 pounds of freight and 2,787 passengers.
They completed 1914 sorties, involving 778 flying hours.
In Townsville, 10 Squadron Neptune Maritime aircraft flew over the gulf country on liaison and observation tasks, and parachuted supplies in specially packed 'storepedoes'.
Far to the south, 2 Squadron Canberra photo reconnaissance aircraft photographed the whole of Moreton district from Noosa Heads to the NSW border in a planning project aimed at limiting the effects of flooding in the future.
The floods struck first in northern New South Wales. Helicopters were deployed to Narrabri, Walgett, Thargomindah, Broken Hill and the St George area of southern Queensland.
One of the helicopters at Broken Hill flew into South Australia to rescue a family of five endangered by rising flood waters.
Caribou and Hercules transports backed up the helicopter deployment and evacuated men, women and children, including 180 itinerant cotton pickers stranded by floodwaters at Wee Waa, who were flown to Tamworth.
They then began the task of dropping fodder to stock marooned on pockets of high ground.
Read the original story from 1974 on Trove and explore Trove for more Air Force stories.
