Air up there

 

 

By Cpl Jonathan Garland
THROUGH the several aspects of the Australia’s presence in East Timor – INTERFET, UNTAET and UNMISET – two things have remained unchanged.

These things are the presence of a squadron from Australia’s 1 Avn Regt and the mission they fulfill in providing airborne reconnaissance and surveillance to support the UN mission.

OC 162 Recce Sqn Maj Brendan Dwyer said most of their work was along the Tactical Coordination Line between East and West Timor, although they could support other UN missions when assets were available.

“We can also provide command and liaison capability as well as an overwatch function but normally we stick pretty closely to reconnaissance,” he said.

The detachment located at Suai, numbers 28 soldiers to maintain and operate three aircraft and is unlikely to reduce until withdrawn from the operation.

With the departure of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in late 2002, the base at Suai airfield has morphed from Anzac lines to Singaroo lines, with the Singapore Air Force taking up residence.

“It started well, with a traditional lion dance, and we’re seeing more and more social interaction between the two groups, particularly on the sporting field.”