After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission Victoria invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the war, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The advent of solid-state electronics in the 1960s replaced the more delicate valve sets which enabled greater use of vehicle mounted radios. The Commission continued to research, develop and build new radios at its many workshops around Victoria. The network was supported by a large team of skilled radio technicians. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 5G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s. Radio telephone.8422bushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

a 3 X A4 page document for Recommendation for Decoration for Flight Lieutenant Cooper, Garry G. who was based at the Officer's mess, RAAF Base, Williamstown in NSW, Pages two and three describe the reason for the recommendation (see photos for the full story). The document is signed by James T. Patrick, Lt Col, USAF Commander on the 19th July 1968.recommendation for decoration, flt lt g.g. cooper, cooper garry gordon, 0219964, pilot, distinguished flying cross, australian force vietnam, raaf, royal australian air force, raaf base, williamstown, forward air controller, lt. col james t. patrick, usaf, commander

At the height of the Vietnam War, allied tactical fighter aircraft flew over 700 missions every day against ground targets across the southern republic.vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 - aerial operations - american, air pilots ., military - australia - personal narratives., fac, forward air controllers, bird dog, cessna