Introduction
Parakeet mobile satellite communications station
Special forces dropped into Lake Burley Griffin by helicopter
Canberra commemorated the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific with "Salute to Veterans", 13 August to 15 August 2005. World War II ended officially on VP Day, 15 August 1945.
There was a display of new military vehicles and helicopters as well as WWII vintage vehicles. Special forces dropped into Lake Burley Griffin by helicopter and were picked up in speedboats. There was a flypast by World War II and modern military aircraft. I tried to photograph as much as I could, by the aircraft were a bit fast.
Army Harley-Davidson Motorcycle
Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters
Ground Display
Modern Equipment
Some of the modern equipment included a Parakeet mobile satellite communications station on a six wheel Land Rover, Kaman Helicopter, TPS-43 Air Defence Radar.
Vintage equipment included a Bren Gun Carrier, Stuart light tank, Ferret armored car, Saracen armoured personnel carrier, M3 half-track, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle.
The flypast included a Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, and Curtiss P-40, in formation with a General Dynamics F-111 and Gloster Meteor. A UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter lead a CH-47 Chinook helicopter with a landrover and trailer slung underneath. These could be seen and photographed from the outdoor tables of the bookplate restaurant at the National Library of Australia.
VP Day
... Few announcements in Australian history have provoked such spontaneous displays of emotion as Prime Minister Ben Chifley's on 15 August 1945. On that day, Japan announced it would surrender to Allied forces. Victory in Europe had been achieved on 8 May 1945 and Japan's surrender ended World War II, which had raged for almost six years.
Finally, the war was over and, for Australians at home and those serving abroad, it was a time to rejoice. Australians poured onto the streets, dancing, waving flags and enjoying the freedom for which they and their servicemen and women had sacrificed so much. Those famous scenes of people dancing in the streets still resonate today, epitomising the relief felt by Australians at the end of the war. ...
From: "VP Day - Historical Background", Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2005