Aces North
Fine spirit of cooperation

By Louise Butcher

FLGOFF Dale Bagnall and FLTLT David Martin, fighter controller operators with 114MCRU, guide aircraft during Aces North.

Photo by AC David Gibbs

CAPT Matt Vincent, of the USAF, stands next to a line of personnel getting on an aircraft at RAAF Base Darwin to return to the US after Aces North.

Photo by Louise Butcher

WORKING side-by-side with the RAAF during Exercise Aces North 04 was a great experience, according to US Air Force Commander Captain Matt Vincent.

CAPT Vincent said the exercise showed that people from both countries could work together harmoniously to achieve joint objectives.

“The Australians have been very easy to work with and are very good flyers,” he said.

“This is multi-national training. We are learning how to achieve interoperability, and how [if necessary] we would go to war together in the future.”

The USAF contingent from 12 Fighter Squadron – based at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska – operated out of RAAF Base Darwin during their short stay in Australia and brought with them 14 F-15Cs. Up to 180 USAF personnel were involved.

The Aces North scenarios feature blue and red forces, with the F-15s providing “red air support”. Among other units operating out of Darwin are No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit and No. 76 Squadron.

Executive Officer 114MCRU Squadron Leader Brett Risstrom said his unit had been responsible for the control of “red air” forces and that 20 personnel had provided fighter control services and aerospace battle management against the controllers on the Fighter Combat Controllers’ course. Another 100 personnel from 114MCRU have acted as support personnel.

SQNLDR Risstrom said the operators and technical staff were heavily involved in operations for up to 12 hours a day.

76SQN personnel are also enthusiastic about their involvement in Aces North. As the enemy force, six Hawks have been used in a variety of roles, including tracking and interception.

76SQN senior engineer Squadron Leader Gavin Jenkinson said he had wanted to see how operations for maintenance were different from when at home and that Aces North was a good opportunity to get to know most of the 55 deployed members, made up of maintainers, logistics personnel and pilots.

76SQN aircraft maintenance officer Flying Officer Ben Nicholls said being in a different location and the number of personnel working on the exercise had presented challenges to everyone.

“Every single trip is another experience with a squadron and you are continually refining procedures both from the maintenance side and the aircrew side,” FLGOFF Nicholls said.

Links to more Aces North Coverage

A show of aces
Team's shining example
Maintaining a high standard
Secure lead-up to Exercise Pitch Black

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