Army advisors in Sumatra DPR/TV/1510

Australian soldiers are again assisting the Indonesian government in mapping out the huge island of Sumatra. The operation, which began last year, has been code-named Operation Gading, meaning Elephant Tusk. Army surveyors from a detachment of the 2nd Field Survey Squadron, have their main base at the sprawling capital of South Sumatra, Palembang. Their camp is located alongside the capital's airport for ease of resupply. The soldiers are supported by a fleet of five aircraft...two RAAF Iroquois helicopters, a RAAF Caribou transport aircraft, an Army Pilatus Porter which operates as a camera aircraft, and a specially-chartered civilian Beech Queen Air twin-engined aircraft that completes complicated radio signalled measuring tasks. At Palembang stores are brought in for later distribution to the main forward base, about two hundred miles further north at Djapura, and from there to the remote stations in the jungle. Commanding the operation is Major Ted Laker of South Strathfield, NSW, who has had command of the project since it began last year. This year the plan is to complete mapping the central area of Sumatra. Major Laker is assisted by veteran mapman Lieutenant (Lt) Pat Woods of Coogee Beach, Sydney, NSW, who is also in charge of Survey operations. They daily check statistics radioed in from remote outstations, up to 400 miles away. Aerial photographs taken by the Army surveyors are also closely scrutinised before being passed as accurate. Instructions for the daily tasks are radioed out at 6.30 a.m. each day to the remote stations and to the forward base at Djapura. Corporal Brian Duncan of Macquarie Fields, NSW, and Signalman Jim Wright of Carrum, Vic, are two of the radio operators who man the set. Complicated radio signals from the Queen Air aircraft are registered on Aerodist graphs and checked for accuracy at Palembang, where Lt Simon Lemon of Clare, SA, and Sapper Frank Fischer of Balgowlah, Sydney, NSW, keep an expert eye on them. The mapping programme places a great demand on the aircraft, and the RAAF has a ground crew, which is prepared to work around the clock to keep the aircraft flying. RAAF Sergeant Bill Miles of North Richmond, NSW, found that he had an audience of Indonesian children whenever he went to work. The kiddies showed a great interest in the aircraft, especially the Iroquois helicopters which they flocked to watch. For the soldiers at Palembang, and their mates further north, progress on the project is measured a line at a time, but they know that when their work is completed, the Indonesian government will have maps of such accuracy, that planning of national projects such as hydro-electric schemes, irrigation systems, and trans-migration schemes, will be able to commence. Also identified: Corporal Col Laybutt of Gosford, NSW.