On Friday November 8, about 300 family and friends travelled from around the globe to gather in the 2 Squadron hangar at RAAF Base Williamtown, to honour the late Wing Commander (retd) Peter Krieg, known as ‘Cowboy’, who died on October 13.
Wing Commander Krieg joined the Air Force in 1981 as an Air Defence Controller, and proceeded to have an impressive career, which was integral to the establishment of the E-7A Wedgetail capability and earned him a Conspicuous Service Cross.
He was the first Commanding Officer of modern day 2 Squadron on its reformation on January 18, 2000.
He was selected for the United States Navy E-2 Hawkeye exchange, becoming the first ADF member to be awarded US Navy’s ‘Wings of Gold’ as a qualified E-2 crewmember, with a mandate to return home and stand-up the Air Force’s own Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft project.
Wing Commander Krieg named the aircraft and the project ‘Wedgetail’ (after an experience driving the Stuart highway where he encountered one of the magnificent birds), and dedicated 32 years of service to the project both in the Air Force and with Boeing Australia.
Commanding Officer of 2 Squadron Wing Commander Samuel Thorpe, a long-term colleague and friend of Wing Commander Krieg, remembers his legacy.
“Without Cowboy’s determination, dedication and vision, Wedgetail would have remained just a dream,” Wing Commander Thorpe said.
“Through his strong leadership and advocacy, the RAAF now has a sovereign AEW&C capability for the defence of our nation.
“In his own words while I was visiting him in hospital: ‘2 Squadron and the E-7 has exceeded all my expectations; from a capability that our government and our own service didn’t want, to the capability that no one can live without’.”
Wing Commander Krieg took his last flight during the memorial, as his ashes were piped to the E-7A Wedgetail, with a playlist of his choosing on as the aircraft prepared for departure.
Wing Commander Thorpe was immensely proud of 2 Squadron’s efforts hosting the memorial, closing another chapter in 2 Squadron’s distinguished history through a celebration of Cowboy’s life.
“His legacy is now etched in history, with a perpetual award in his honour: a painting detailing ‘the moment a dream was born’ that will grace the halls of 2 Squadron for as long as the 2 Squadron colours fly; and his Fighter Controller brevet proudly hanging in number one position as an honorary E-7A aircrew member in the 2 Squadron bar Fort Courage,” he said.
