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High
praise for our personnel
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Air
Force ground crew at work at the base at Manas, Kyrgyzstane
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AIR
Force air-to-air refuellers deployed in support of the international
coalition against terrorism are winning themselves some American
friends and a good reputation.
“Flying with Fosters [Australians], we like the way they come
and meet us ... they go out of their way to hook us up,” a
US Marine F/A-18 pilot said
“They’ve been there for us in a pinch, which you don’t
see out of a lot of the guys. Most refuellers are out there just
kind of doing their own thing,” he said. “Sometimes it’s
simple, other times it’s two o’clock in the morning, you’re
wearing night-vision goggles, there’s turbulence, and you're
in the clouds.”
The US aviator has been working with personnel from other nations,
but said “honestly, the Aussies have been the best”.
The US commander of Ganci Air Base, Brigadier General George Patrick
III, reiterated the pilot’s sentiments.
When he stepped up to his new post recently, the first aviators
he chose to fly with were Australians.
Brigadier General Patrick took command of the air base at Manas
that serves as the launching point for 84WG’s Detachment's
707 refuellers.
He joined an Australian crew to view an air-to-air refuelling mission
from the other side of the fuel probe. The mission over Afghanistan
lasted almost seven hours, giving the General plenty of time to
watch the crew in action.
Brigadier General Patrick has more than 3100 flying hours in F-16
fighters from his 29 years in the military so when he pays a compliment
it means something.
“The Aussies are very professional and very competent yet have
the type of easygoing camaraderie that I’m used to, coming
from a fighter squadron,” he said.
“I can tell you, having flown fighters for 25 years, that without
the refuellers our mission-effectiveness is severely limited.”
The General said he had become good friends with the Australians,
except for the occasional communication problem.
“Occasionally my southern-English and some of the ‘down-under’
get a little mixed-up, but other than that it’s been great
fun working with the Aussies," he said.
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