Challenge Coin: Airfield engineers : Corporal D Clews, Air Traffic Control Detachment, RAAF

Airfield engineers challenge coin. On one side is an enamelled wombat, superimposed over the outline of Australia. Australia is coloured by red enamel, with the Southern Cross at an angle with blue enamelled stars. Surrounding this is a blue border. Written inside the border is 'AIRFIELD ENGINEERS E.R.S & L ALWAYS FIRST UBIQUE' and two stars. The reverse of the medallion features the enamelled emblem and motto of the Royal Australian Air Force. The outside edge of the coin is plain brass.

This medallion (also known as a 'challenge coin') was made to commemorate the combined service of Allied forces in the Middle East during Operations Slipper, Bastille, Falconer and Catalyst. This example was collected by Corporal David Clews, who served with the RAAF airfield engineers at Baghdad International Airport during Operation Falconer - the deployment of Australian combat troops to Iraq. The airfield engineers were tasked with turning the air traffic control tower and adjacent multi-story operations building (both in an advanced state of disrepair) into a fully functioning work facility for the Air Traffic Control Detachment. A challenging task, as on initial inspection very little was running other than limited power. Complicating matters further, the engineers had to work around the Air Traffic contingent, who had already set up in both locations.

When Operation Falconer concluded in July 2003, Clews was posted to 1 Combat Logistics Squadron RAAF based at RAAF Base Townsville. He remained with that unit until 1 January 2007 when it was amalgamated with 1 Air Terminal Squadron to form 1 Airfield Operational Support Squadron. This unit is responsible for providing both a fixed-base and expeditionary support for air movements, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) functions and airfield engineering to the RAAF's Expeditionary Combat Support Squadrons.

Clews previously served in East Timor with 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (ECSS) a fully deployable airbase operations unit that provided airbase specific operational support and common combat support functions to flying units at forward operating airbases. The squadron was deployed to East Timor in September 1999 as part of Operation Warden - the deployment of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET). INTERFET was the United Nations multinational force formed to address East Timor's deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions. When INTERFET handed over command of its East Timor military operations to UNTAET, 381 ECSS became part of Operation Tanager - the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). On 20 May 2002 East Timor became an independent country and UNTAET was succeeded by the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET). Operation Tanager ceased and 381 ECSS to return to Australia.