PRIME MOVERS
Key role in the Solomons

By CAPT Sarah Hawke

Sergeant Shane Kay, of No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Darwin, marshalls a C-130 towards the Henderson International Airfield terminal. Photo by CPL Sean Burton

AIR Force members are playing a key role in moving police, military personnel and equipment around the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Helpem Fren.

Even in the first week of the police-led operation to establish law and order in the Solomons, the crews of No. 38 Squadron’s two DHC-4 Caribous flew to remote areas on Guadacanal, the island on which the capital Honiara is located, and the neighbouring island of Malaita.

Last week they flew personnel to Auki on Malaita to establish a new police post.

There are nearly 1000 islands and very few sealed roads in the Solomons, reinforcing the key role of the Caribous and their crews.

They face landings on short grassy and often unkept runways in remote areas. When they first landed at Auki they were greeted by fascinated crowds who probably had not seen a military aircraft for some time.

Most of the Air Force personnel are based near Honiara at Henderson International Airfield, which also hosts four Australian and four New Zealand Iroquois helicopters and soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, who provide security.

Not far from the runway, lines of tents sit in an open area. The airfield has the only bitumen runway in the country, so the Caribous’ ability to land in rugged conditions is an important capability of the veteran aircraft that’s older than many of the personnel serving on Operation Helpem Fren.

The Commander of the Air Force elements in the Solomon Islands, Squadron Leader Adam Williams, is pleased with the efforts to date.

“It’s great to do it for a cause that has so much popular support – everybody has been waving and welcoming,” SQNLDR Williams said.

He said one of the most significant outcomes so far of Operation Helpem Fren had been that “a lot of weapons have been handed in and that’s got to be a good thing”. On one occasion 40 weapons were handed in – 85 per cent of them home made.

Army Engineers from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment have assisted in destroying the weapons.

The Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) comprises 2000 police and military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

Led by Special Coordinator Nick Warner, RAMSI also comprises civilians from Australian Government departments and agencies.

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