Flying into war-blitzed city

Valuable medical supplies are loaded on to a Herc. Photo by CPL Darren Hilder

By CAPT Phil Pyke

EXPLOSIONS flashed in the night sky as the Air Force C-130H landed on a taxiway at a darkened Baghdad International Airport (BIAP).

The touchdown was the end of the journey for pallets of medical aid destined for the Iraqi people.

The arrival of the aid, including drugs and antibiotics, was a combined effort between Defence and government agencies as part of Operation Baghdad Assist.

Operation Baghdad Assist is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq.

Some of the aid was drawn from HMAS Kanimbla’s surplus medical stores, and transferred to Kuwait via the ship’s Sea King and the Sea Hawk from HMAS Darwin.

ASNHQ Health Officer Wing Commander Geoff Robinson accompanied the flight as the medical equipment custodian. He also took responsibility for the narcotics and antibiotics on the flight.

The load also held IV fluids, paediatric and obstetric equipment, and aid for operating theatres and wards.

Additional medical supplies were sourced from the US Force Medical System by the Australian National Headquarters to supplement those from HMAS Kanimbla for the first delivery into the war-torn city.

With media reporting nearly 40 of Baghdad’s hospitals damaged and the lines of casualties growing, the Australian Government responded by providing this first flight of medical aid into the region.

“The health system is significantly stretched as far as providing the type of care that is needed up here,” said WGCDR Robinson, who also worked in the region during the first Gulf War.

Battle damage to the runway at Baghdad International Airport forced the C-130 to land on a taxiway in a tactical operation. The pilots and crew used night-vision equipment.

With propellers still turning, the aircraft was unloaded within 15 minutes. The pilots remained ready in case an urgent departure was needed.

As US forces unloaded the pallets, members of No. 4 Commando fanned out around the aircraft, providing a high level of force protection on the darkened taxiway.

Their presence served as a timely reminder with the flash of explosions observed in the distance, as the aid was delivered to a US Civil-Military Operations Centre at the edge of the taxiway.

After the unload, the commandoes climbed back on board and the C-130 headed south, having created history both with the landing of the first Australian aircraft at BIAP and the delivery of medical aid to Baghdad.

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