WE DELIVER
Significant niche role

An Ordnance Technician inspects the stockpile of 2000-pound bombs to be fitted to the F/A-18 Hornets. Photo by 1JPAU(P)

By Richard Hogan

THE Air Force is proving its niche capability in the war against Iraq as it meets its highest operational tempo in 30 years.

Australian F/A-18 fighter pilots have demonstrated their flexibility with strike missions, air support for ground forces and escorting other coalition aircraft.

RAAF C-130 Hercules aircrews have made a substantial contribution to the air operations with re-supply missions into Iraq and the P-3C Orion aircrews continue to clock up sorties over the Persian Gulf.

Many equally dedicated ground and logistical personnel are supporting the aircrews with maintenance teams ensuring the aircraft are fully serviceable.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston acknowledged that the Air Force’s commitment might be small compared to the British and US components of the coalition, but he said the Australian personnel were earning praise and recognition for their efforts.

“Our people are working many hours but doing it quietly, confidently and professionally to achieve this recognition and excellent results,” he said. “The high tempo, capability, readiness and success of our people, both in the Middle East and supporting them back home, is a timely salute to the traditions and ethos of the RAAF as it marks its 82nd anniversary.

“Maintaining aircraft serviceability and safety of our personnel reflects our commitment to the Government and families in Australia but our diverse operational capability shows an equal commitment to the coalition.

“Our relationships with our allies go deeper than political leader to political leader – the military bonds formed over decades of working together in war, peace and peacekeeping, are strong.

“This is one of the reasons we have been able to readily, and successfully, play such a significant role in this current operation.”

All 14 F/A-18s from No. 75 Squadron have been undertaking strike missions against ground targets leading to Baghdad from the south, as well as providing air support to ground forces.

“ I am very pleased that our maintenance teams are continuing to achieve such incredible serviceability rates with all 14 aircraft available for tasks,” AIRMSHL Houston said. “Like the F/A-18s, the C-130 maintenance teams are achieving extraordinary results – our aircraft are meeting operational commitments with minimum fuss.”

“Likewise, the ground and air crews from the Maritime Patrol Group have kept the P-3 Orion aircraft in the air despite long and intense surveillance missions over the Persian Gulf,” AIRMSHL Houston said.

“I am very conscious of the fact that the media focus of the Air Force commitment to the Middle East has been on our aircraft and although they allow us to do these missions, it is only because of our people behind the scenes doing jobs that are not publicly recognised.

“The work being done by our Expeditionary Combat Support Squadrons is critical to the support of our air operations, but also critical to the total coalition effort.

“It is a total Air Force team effort – not just the aircrew and maintenance staff, but our combat support people as well, all working to keep the air bases functioning by providing communications, logistics, admin, health, financial, welfare, facilities and security support.”

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