Nominations are open for the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship in the 60th Anniversary year of the Spitfire Association.
The Spitfire Association was formed 60 years ago by members of 457 Squadron RAAF and quickly grew to include members from all RAAF Spitfire Squadrons and those pilots and crews who flew and served with other RAF or Commonwealth Spitfire Squadrons.Not satisfied with their distinguished record of service during the war and subsequent contributions in post-war activity, members of the Association formed the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship in 1998.
The Fellowship continues to this day. Past Patron ACM (Ret’d) Mark Binskin, AC and current Patron and Chief of the Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC take an active role in helping shape our future as does Spitfire Association Patron Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore, AM.
Founders of the Fellowship were the late AVM Lyndon Compton, AO, OBE, the late FLTLT Edward (Ted) Sly DFC, the late FLTLT Peter Watson DFC and shortly after the founding they were joined by late Lifetime Vice President FLTLT Lysle Roberts. Their vision for the Fellowship was as an ongoing living memorial rather than a traditional granite and bronze monument.
Today the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship continues to be directed by the Spitfire Association and is managed on behalf of the Association by the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
2021 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Spitfire Association.
Whilst the UNSW manages the SMDF, Fellowships are invited from both within and externally to the UNSW.
Click here for further information about the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, including the Application Process
About the Spitfire Association
The Spitfire Association remains a contemporary organisation, well beyond the lives of our founding members, the Spitfire pilots, and crews.
Today we not only provide a reason for commemorative occasions such as ANZAC Day and other social gatherings but work tirelessly to help Australia remain resilient.
The Spitfire Association retains its heritage in a contemporary form and looks forward, to ensure a relevant contribution to the future. As with the Royal Australian Air Force, we bring together our past, present, and future.
- The past involves preserving the memory of the air and ground crews of World War II, the men and women in war support roles, and the Spitfire aircraft.
- The present is our yearly calendar supporting membership, functions, tours, fundraising, our links with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and growth of the Spitfire Association. The present also considers how the Spitfire Association helps Australia remain resilient.
- The future is the work of the Spitfire Association as it supports fund raising to maintain and grow our ability to help keep Australia resilient. We do this by continued and active maintenance of the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, as well as bringing other selected projects to life.
The future is the work of the Spitfire Association as it supports fund raising to maintain and grow our ability to help keep Australia resilient. We do this by continued and active maintenance of the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, as well as bring other selected projects to life. Maintaining the right balance as we reshape is crucial. We are committed to ensuring that we forever remain a living, breathing memorial to the Spitfire generation, whilst Carrying their Spirit Forward.
Click Here To Join the Spitfire Association
Click Here To Buy Tickets For Our 60th Anniversary Celebration
Contact Us
Email our President: Geoff Zuber
Email our Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships Ambassador: Lachlan Smart
Call our President – Geoff Zuber on +61 0 409 773 840
Call our Vice President – Leon Waxman on +61 0 402 087 405