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Homecoming for 41WG
By WOFF Jamie Mullins
Volume 49, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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FAMILY UNITED: SQNLDR Scott Redman’s wife Joanne is all smiles as dad catches up with eldest son Joel, daughter Lilli and youngest son Mitchell at the 41WG welcome home function at RAAF Base Williamtown.
Photo by CPL Pete Borys |
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BACK HOME: CO Task Group 633.12, WGCDR Paul Turner (right), and ASOP WOFF Jamie Mullins deployed to Kandahar Airfield as part of the 41WG advance party, along with the TPS 77 microwave radar behind them.
Photo by CPL Pete Borys |
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The 41WG Advance Party that deployed to Afghanistan to establish the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at Kandahar Airfield has returned home after a successful mission.
Commander Surveillance and Response Group AIRCDRE Warren Ludwig presented members of 41WG Headquarters with their active service and Afghanistan campaign medals at a welcome home ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown on September 26.
“41WG personnel, along with their Combat Support Group (CSG) counterparts, have played a key enabling role in the rapid establishment of a deployable Airspace Control and Battle Management capability in Afghanistan, thereby contributing to effective coalition operations in that theatre,” AIRCDRE Ludwig said.
The Advance Party was led by WGCDR Paul Turner, 41WG XO, and consisted of radar operators, engineers, logistic and administration staff. They were responsible for managing the combat air operations throughout Afghanistan as part of Task Group 622.12.
The team arrived in Afghanistan on April 25 and under-studied the US CENTAF radar unit, which Australia took command of on August 5.
Several weeks were spent becoming proficient on the US system, which was quite different to the state-of-the-art Australian equipment.
The team took the lead in training the operators, drafting all required documentation, and, in conjunction with a team from CSG, overseeing the installation of infrastructure required for the construction of the CRC, which arrived in theatre in June loaded onto two chartered Antonov flights.
The advance party was joined by a 41WG accreditation team in July. The accreditation team undertook a series of reviews, ensuring that the deployed capability met RAAF technical and operational airworthiness requirements. Once their work was done, CDR SRG issued an operating permit.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the team who have established the 41WG capability in such a crucial role. To be in control of the air operations and airspace over Afghanistan is a significant responsibility,” 41WG OC GPCAPT Westwood said.
The 41WG team departed Afghanistan on August 8 after handing operations to 114MCRU.
TG 633.12 will be in place for the next 12 months, and will draw on staff from across 41WG units, namely, 114MCRU, 3CRU, SACTU and 1RSU.
The CRC is deployed in support of the International Security and Assistance Force, supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and Operation Enduring Freedom, fighting the war on terrorism.
The welcome home also recognised the efforts and vital support from the members’ friends and families during the deployment, including those close to Staff Officer Engineer SQNLDR Scott Redman.
“My experiences as a member of the 41WG reconnaissance and advance parties have been the highlight of my 25 years in the Air Force,” SQNLDR Redman said.
“Getting such a complex radar and communication system prepared, sited and integrated with coalition forces has been an incredible challenge, and our successes have been largely due to the highly skilled and innovative technical team chosen to commence this historic deployment.”
| Great job |
- The 41WG advance party arrived in Afghanistan on April 25 to set up the Control and Reporting Centre at Kandahar Airfield.
- Led by WGCDR Paul Turner, the team of radar operators, engineers, logistic and administrative staff managed the combat air operations throughout Afghanistan.
- The team took command of operations from the USAF on August 5 and then departed Afghanistan on August 8 after handing over to 114MCRU. |
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