More Defence news: 13 July 2009 - 19 July 2009
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Defence mourns Private Benjamin Ranaudo | ADF member killed on operations in Afghanistan | Heavy lifting |
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Defence mourns Private Benjamin Ranaudo
The ADF member killed by an anti-personnel explosive device in Afghanistan on 18 July 2009 has been identified as Private Benjamin Ranaudo. He was a member of the Townsville based 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was a member of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan and was killed while on operations north of Tarin Kowt early Saturday morning, Afghanistan time. Private Ranaudo was 22 years old and leaves behind a loving family who are currently receiving support from Defence representatives. The family has requested their privacy be respected during this difficult time. They will not be conducting any media interviews. More: Media release | Photo |
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ADF member killed on operations in Afghanistan
An Australian soldier, serving with Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force – 2 (MRTF-2), has been killed on operations in Afghanistan. A second soldier and three Afghan civilians were also wounded in the explosion. The incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, 18 July 2009, Afghanistan-time, when an explosive device detonated, killing the ADF member and wounding the others. Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, and Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, announced the death in Canberra on Sunday, 19 July 2009. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, said the incident occurred during an operation against a compound of interest in the Baluchi Valley. “It appears that in the course of the cordon and search operation – conducted with our Afghan National Army partners - an anti-personnel explosive device has exploded, killing one Australian soldier and wounding another,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said. Three Afghan civilians also received less serious injuries in the explosion. One of the injured is believed to be an eight-year-old boy. Senator Faulkner offered his condolences to the deceased serviceman’s family, saying, “Our country has lost a brave and dedicated serviceman, but they have also lost a loved one, a family member and a friend.” “The nation’s gratitude and sorrow, heartfelt as it is, cannot reach the magnitude of their loss. Our thoughts are also with the injured soldier and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Senator Faulkner said. The family of the deceased serviceman have asked that their privacy be respected at this time, and have requested the soldier’s identity not be released.More: Department of Defence media release | Minister for Defence’s media releases | Audio |
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The Royal Australian Air Force’s giant C-17 Heavy Air Lift aircraft based at Amberley have achieved a major milestone in support of Australian Defence Force operations in Afghanistan with the first landing on the remote air-strip at Tarin Kowt to deliver vital stores and equipment. “What made the mission a significant milestone for this aircraft was the fact the airstrip at Tarin Kowt is a dirt strip and this was the, which presents a whole range of new challenges for jet aircraft,” the Air Component Commander of the Joint Australian Task Force in the Middle East Group Captain Gary Martin said. More: Media Release | Image gallery |
