Roulettes founding CO dies

The founding commanding officer of the RAAF’s Roulettes display team, SQNLDR (ret) Philip Dunn died in Canberra on February 17, aged 79 .

SQNLDR Dunn was the Roulettes’ first commanding officer after the team was established and flew its first display at Point Cook in December 1970, and had previously flown with the RAF’s renowned Red Arrows team in 1969 while on exchange with the RAF.

The Roulettes initially flew the Macchi MB.326 before switching to its current mount, the Pilatus PC-9/A in 1989. The team was preceded by the Red Sales and the Telstars, both of which flew Vampires in the 1960s.

SQNLDR Dunn was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1983, but even following his diagnosis remained a prominent painter in the Canberra art community. He is survived by his second wife Barbara, a sister and brother, two children, and three grandchildren.