RAAF Mirages in five nation exercise

RAAF Mirages stationed at Butterworth in northern Malaysia will play an important role in the five nation combined exercise now under way in Malaysia. Mirages of Nos 3 and 75 Squadrons RAAF at Butterworth are providing air defence of the northern Malaysian area in the exercise, which is codenamed Bersatu Padu, a Malay phrase meaning complete unity. The exercise is designed to train combined forces of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom under conditions that would prevail after the British withdrawal. RAAF participation will include as well as the Mirages, Orion maritime aircraft from No 11 Squadron RAAF at Edinburgh, South Australia, and a detachment of the Air Telecommunications Unit from Richmond, NSW. The main phase of the exercise will take place in the last two weeks in June when naval forces will be operating off the east coast of Malaysia, and two multi-nation brigades will be exercising in west Malaysia. The Mirages will be operating with RAF Phantom aircraft in support of the combined army forces in the exercise, as well as carrying out air defence exercises. The enemy will be provided by British Commandos, Gurkhas and naval and air forces. Shows Mirage landing . Sign for 75 Squadron RAAF. Line up of Mirages. Mixed shots of armourers loading 30mm cannon ammunition. Three shots of pilot Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Reg J Meissner being strapped into the cockpit of Mirage A3-55. [ Les Dunn whose name is stencilled (Flt Lt L N C Dunn) on this aircraft has identified the pilot on this occasion as Reg Meissner]. Flt Lt Meissner closes cockpit (2 shots). Cutaway of Mirage line up. Mirage taxies and takes off (3 shots).