By
Michael Brooke
Volume
48, No. 7, May 04, 2006
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ON
HAND: A C-130 Hercules prepares to depart Honiara’s
Henderson Airfield after re-supplying the Australian contingent.
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Photo
by SGT Katrina Johnson
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THE
operational tempo of the Air Lift Group reached a new high last
month when aircraft from 84 and 86WGs were called on to lift a
company of soldiers to Honiara to support the Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
OC 86WG, GPCAPT John McGarry, told AIR FORCE News that ALG personnel
responded superbly to the challenge of assisting with air transport
for a regional crisis at short notice .
GPCAPT McGarry said aircraft from 33SQN and 37SQN were recalled
from the regional training exercise Bersama Shield, to support
C-130 Hercules from 36SQN to lift a company of infantry from 1RAR
from Townsville to Honiara on April 19.
This was followed by lifting Alpha Company, 3RAR, based at Holsworthy,
to Honiara on April 21.
“Six aircraft were committed to Op Anode, one 33SQN B707,
one 37SQN C-130J and four 36SQN C-130H,” he said.
Alpha Company was transported from Richmond direct to Honiara
in the B707 and one C-130, he added.
GPCAPT McGarry said the key lesson from previous Op Anode missions,
as with all such crises reactions was to “remain flexible.”
“During this Op, and for all other such operations, the plan
changes constantly,” he said.
“ALG is well-equipped and very familiar with applying a flexible
approach to the planning and conduct of air transport for such
short notice tasking.”
GPCAPT McGarry said the Solomon’s crisis coincided with the
Easter break when many ALG personnel were enjoying a much-needed
break with their families.
“The remaining aircrew, maintenance personnel and operations
staff worked tirelessly to meet the challenges that arose as the
majority of the ALG flying program was turned upside-down overnight,”
he said.
