http://www.thisistrue.com/chopper.html

Yes this was on the news here (as you could imagine). One thing though - choppers always hover around "significantly lower than the building's roof line" when the Indy is on...... I figured this was perfectly ok. The sign, well, to be honest it really isn't needed when the Indy is on...........

nice sign even

Bit silly...but typical of Aussies in uniform! My younger brother did a 25 year stint in the Australian Army. Some of the stories, particularly those that came out of joint manoeuvres in the Australian scrub with your guys, were simply too crazy NOT to be true! One that sticks in my mind came from...I think they called it K eighty something? Kangaroo 198??...back in the eighties anyway, the Aussies are camped out amongst the trees in the middle of nowhere, it's a pitch black night....very quiet, the distant sound of a cruising American Forces jet was not uncommon, then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose! the jet had approached at near treetop level, went ballistic on afterburners, setting fire to the treetops near the Australian camp I think it was after the second or third time this happened some wrists were slapped. It sounded like a lot of time was spent on both sides pulling some practical and very ingenius jokes and one-upsmanship!!

Sadly the attitude to such hi-jinx has come down hard since 11th Sept 01.

Jim.

Just the kind of guys you want defending your country. You want guys to defend your freedom to enjoy your ladies instead of some other joker from another country mackin' on 'em.

Hey Jim,

You mention Kangaroo 198?.

The "Kangaroo" exercises were held in the Shoalwater Bay Training area, north of Rockhampton C.Q.

I was posted to the District Support Unit in Rockhampton for a few years.

During one of the "Roo" exercises, I was on guard duty at the front gate one day when a group of Yanks who were waiting for a cab asked me if there were any dangerous animals in "the Bush" that they should be wary of.

I mentioned that there were plenty of brown and king brown snakes and taipans, then told them that the animal to watch for was the Drop Bear. (Yair, THAT old one). I was asked to describe it and when I did, one septic said that it sounded like I was talking about the Koala Bear, "Those cuddly little things you see in travel brochures" he said.

I pointed out to them that what they saw in photos were the tame, domesticated ones and that, in the wild, if you walked under their tree nest, they were likely to leap onto your back and scratch *#@^&% out of you.

Being the nasty bugger I was then, I didn't tell them I was having them on and even these days, so many years after the event I can still have a chuckle when I think of those poor buggers wandering around the training area with their eyes glued to the trees.

Believe it or not, I actuall like yanks.

Rick.

That's some good stuff but it's always funnier to tell them about it and see their reaction

You guys are messed up! Carl we should take them snype hunting one of thease days.

good one Rick - they're probably telling there grandkids about the "Drop Bear" as we speak you could have started a legend !

Lachlan, me young china plate,

There's probably a Yank Colonel and a Major who still believe the story I told them of how the mail was delivered to the remote properties within the Shoalwater Training Area before the Army took over.

Funny thing is........ way back then, they reckoned I was having them on when I described a platypus to them.

Rick.