Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
03 June 2008
OBG(W) and Australian Army Training Team-Iraq journey home
Soldiers from the Overwatch Battle Group (West) and the Australian Army Training Team-Iraq leave Tallil on a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 aircraft.
Some months ago the Diggers had handed over responsibility for security in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces to retrained Iraqi security forces. They have now handed over their residual "overwatch" and training responsibilities to soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
The first leg of their journey home will take the soldiers to Australia’s main support base in the Middle East where they will conduct a rang of administrative checks before returning to Australia.
After more than six months away from home the soldiers are proud of the many achievements of the Battle Group and the Training Team but are also keen to return home and see family and friends.
The Australian troops still in southern Iraq are well advanced on their pack-up and are on track to return to Australia mid-year, in line with the Government’s election commitment.
| 20080602adf8246638_009 A RAAF C-130 Hercules arrives at Ali Air Base, Tallil, in southern Iraq to take the Diggers of Combat Team Heeler on the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_041 Soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil, in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_052 Soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_067 Soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_080 (Centered) Private Paea-he-Ofa Halo leads the way with soldiers from Combat Team Heeler to board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_101 Soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_113 Australian soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil, in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_134 Soldiers from Combat Team Heeler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080602adf8246638_143 Air Force ground staff load the luggage of soldiers of Combat Team Heeler as they board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil in southern Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 02 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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