‘Weird’ aircraft find bunker

OPERATIONS TEAM

By CPL Cameron Jamieson

An Ilyushin-76, at top, is an example of one of the aircraft to land at RAAF Base Darwin.

LAC Warren Boag.

IT’S easy for the days to merge together from within a command bunker – just ask Leading Aircraftman Warren Boag, an operations clerk with No. 321 Combat Support Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin.

The operations team work from within the depths of the operations centre, a cyclone-proof bunker devoid of any natural light, and are responsible for all aircraft movements in and out of the base.

They also ensure that any supporting tasks, such as ground handling and refuelling, are quickly and efficiently conducted. As such, the bunker is normally a hive of activity but the response to the Asian tsunami sent its occupants into overdrive.

“We ramped up pretty quickly”, LAC Boag said. “It was a constant effort by everyone to get everything arranged to minimise the time the aircraft spent on the ground.”

He also had to deal with some unusual aircraft that were contracted to carry equipment through to Asia.

“We had some weird aircraft – an old Shorts Belfast and Russian Ilyushin-76 and Antonov-124 transport aircraft. The Ilyushins had to be hydrant-refuelled, which required special parking to get them refuelled quickly. It was unusual to deal with these aircraft, but our cooperation with the air movements section on the base meant we overcame the problems with a minimum of fuss.”

LAC Boag admits the pace was demanding, but it was worth the effort. “It’s something I will always remember.”

 

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