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44 australian maritime issues 2009: spc-a annual
Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot (1922-2001) (RAN)
Synnot exposed ‘rescheduling’ as a euphemism to disguise economic cut-backs and hide
the loss of defence capability, without directly over-ruling the individual Service chiefs.
Bearing the moral responsibility to represent the ADF in the face of an unreceptive
government, Synnot was always courteous, patient and resolute. His approach was not
adversarial, he rather sought consensus through uncomplaining effort.
Lieutenant Commander (later Commodore) David Farthing, RAN, was another who faced up
to the task of saying what was right, not simply what others might wish to hear. In 1969-70
he commanded the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam which operated as an Experimental
Military Unit (EMU), integrated with the US Army’s 135th Assault Helicopter Company:
On one occasion a young Regular [US] Army Captain was posted to the
Company as our Flying Instructor, a vital position in any aviation unit,
but, doubly so when so many of your aviators are straight out of flying
school. Inquiries revealed that our new Instructor had only 125 hours
in total. This situation caused the only real argument in my time with
the EMUs – I said that he did not have sufficient experience to instruct
(observing that none of the Australian pilots had less than 1000 hours)
and my American CO [commanding officer] did not agree. Sadly, the
new Instructor managed to kill his first student the next day and the
CO was sacked for something which was really the fault of the system.