CO 76SQN Wing Commander David Wilcox takes the Australia's new lead-in fighter, the Hawk, on its first major exercise. In this year's Pitch Black, the Hawks performed a counter offensive air role, conducting air strikes from Amberley to Williamtown. Photo by CPL Mark Eaton

ALL 1500 personnel participating in Pitch Black would have received a thrill out of being part of one pf the largest military aviation exercises to be held in Australia.

But for the members of No. 76 Squadron, from RAAF Base Williamtown, Pitch Black 2002 was particularly memorable.

76SQN has had its Hawk aircraft since October 2000, but Pitch Black 2002 was the first significant large force exercise that the Hawks from 76SQN have been involved in.

In this year's Pitch Black, the Hawks performed a counter offensive air role, conducting air strikes from Amberley to Williamtown.

"The objectives of 76SQN are to refine our deployed operations, to validate our tactics and training, and it's an excellent opportunity for us to train our junior pilots in defensive counter air planning and mission execution," Commanding Officer of 76SQN Wing Commander David Willcox explained.

"The aircraft have performed incredibly well. We've only had one unserviceability in two weeks."

He said the aircraft were flying as planned with the support of an "incredibly competent" maintenance crew deployed to Amberley in support of the exercise.

At the end of the exercise, WGCDR Willcox said 76SQN hoped to be able to upgrade its pilots category status. "We are achieving the majority of this through Pitch Black," he said.

Pitch Black also allowed 76SQN to rate the performance of its weapons systems for the first time.

"And we intend to refine that further during exercise High Sierra in Townsville later in the year. We will actually drop Mark 87 series weapons in the High Range training area."

By CPL Mark Eaton and Ben Caddaye