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Chooks
home to roost
5 Avn Regt receives a warm tropical welcome
By
Capt Conway Bown
MEMBERS of 5 Avn Chinook Detachment have finally arrived home to
a rousing welcome by family, friends and dignitaries after three
months serving in the Middle East.
The
85-strong CH-47D detachment served alongside American and British
forces who were engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom, (Operation Falconer).
It
was the first operational deployment of Australian Chinooks in the
history of the ADF’s use of the versatile and robust aircraft.
CO
of 5 Avn Regt and the Chinook detachment commander, Lt-Col Shayne
Elder, said that the Australian Chinooks were invaluable to coalition
forces in Afghanistan on Operation Enduring Freedom.
“When
the pre-deployment of Australian forces to the Middle East was decided
upon, there was resounding support for the involvement of the CH-47s
to work with the coalition,” he said.
“We
worked hard and the soldiers were glad to come home.”
Family
and friends were awaiting the arrival of the chartered Qantas 767,
which landed to cheers and a welcome from the Prime Minister, other
politicians, the CDF and military dignitaries.
Capt
David Marko, 2IC of the Chinook troop said one of the biggest shocks
to the system were the colours in Townsville, especially after being
surrounded by desert colours.
Many
of the returning soldiers were confronted with some major changes
to their lives.
“My
daughter Jessie was only able to speak in broken sentences when
I left but now she is able to make complete sentences. I
can almost sit down and have a full conversation with her,”
he said.
“One
of the things she said to me was ‘Daddy, take this off’
and pointed to my desert cams.
“To
her, if I wasn’t wearing my uniform, that meant I was staying
at home and not going away.”
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