By
Andrew Stackpool and LT Alastair McPherson
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Aircraftman
Daniel Jurd, of No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron at RAAF Base
Richmond, works to a tight deadline to prepare emergency
aid to deliver to cyclone-hit Vanuatu. Photo by SGT Troy
Rodgers
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 View
video of Op Vanuatu Assist (5.33Mb) |
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Aircraftwoman
Rebecca Draper and Corporal Michael Apap load pallets on
to the first of two Hercules bound for Vanuatu. Photo by
LCPL Jamie Osbo
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Flight
Lieutenants Shane Prior and Dean Bolton, of No. 37 Squadron,
watch as police unload their C-130 Hercules. Photo by LCPL
Jamie Osbo
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TWO
Richmond-based C-130 Hercules undertook the base’s third
disaster relief operation in two months when they transported
emergency stores to cyclone-torn Vanuatu on March 1.
The government of Vanuatu requested the assistance after Cyclone
Ivy devastated the 80-island nation on February 26-27. The storm
passed over the capital, Port Vila, with winds up to 200km/h cutting
communications, damaging or destroying hundreds of homes and damaging
four ships in Vila Harbour.
Nos 36 and 37 Squadron Hercs transported tarpaulins to secure
houses damaged by the cyclone, as well as water containers and
purification tablets. The 18-tonne consignment was drawn from
Emergency Management Australia’s disaster relief stocks.
The supplies were transported to No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron at
Richmond at 10pm on February 29.
Honed by their previous efforts with Operations Iran Assist and
Niue Assist, RAAF Base Richmond personnel responded magnificently.
1ATS Air Load Team Charlie personnel, led by Corporal Michael
Apap, repacked and loaded the supplies on to a 36SQN C-130H that
departed at 1am and a C-130J from 37SQN that flew out at 3.30am.
The Duty Air Terminal Operator, Sergeant Mick Olsen, was proud
of Team Charlie’s efforts. “They displayed an incredible
amount of resourcefulness, and operated as a cohesive team to
get the aircraft loaded,” he said.
Leading Aircraftman Matt Jeffery, who previously had deployed
on Op Niue Assist, said the team responded rapidly to short notice
deployments.
“Short notice rapid movement of equipment is our bread and
butter, and the nature of this cargo allowed for a quick turnaround,”
he said.
The aircraft arrived in Vila at 6.45am and 9.20am ADST respectively.
Australian servicemen posted to the region and the Hercules aircrew
assisted local police to unload the supplies.
Within one hour of arrival the aircraft were unloaded, refuelled
and in the air for the five-hour return flight.
Aircraft Captain Flight Lieutenant Peter Cseh also flew on Op
Iran Assist on New Year’s Eve and was part of the planning
team for Operation Niue Assist. “Short notice deployments
such as this one to Vanuatu as well as Niue and Iran Assist proves
our commitment and reinforces our standing in the region,”
he said.
Warrant Officer David Birch, a 36SQN Loadmaster, said, “We
are on call 24/7 and ops like this one and the ones over Christmas
show that, like the Army and Navy, we roll whenever and wherever
to get the job done.”
