Captain
Roger (Ridgeback) Walter passed away in Sydney on 4 April
2015. Roger will be remembered as one of the pilots who brought
VH-XBA home to Australia in 2006.
Roger was awarded the Order of Australia Medal on 9 June 2003. The
citation says it all:
Squadron Leader Roger Gilmour Walter, OAM For meritorious performance
of duties as a Boeing 707 Qualified Flying Instructor for Number
33 Squadron. SQNLDR Walter’s contribution to No. 33 Squadron’s training
over the past seven years has been outstanding. His devotion to
duty and diligent professionalism has been both exceptional and
inspirational. Quite simply, without his exemplary leadership, selfless
dedication, skilful management and outstanding ability 33SQN could
not have conducted adequate training to maintain operational capability
over the past seven years.
Even in a crew of equals, each has his own strengths. Roger had
a gift for training, to which his OAM citation attests. As a consummate
instructor he was always able to add polish to an already accomplished
pilot and who, whenever he was in command, did the same with the
aeroplane. Who will ever forget his Longreach arrival on 10 June
2007, where Roger's master touch with XBA created an unforgettable
flying display in a way not likely to be repeated in a 707 again.
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