Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
23 June 2008
C-130 Destination Baghdad
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) maintenance crews have worked through the night to ensure the fleet of Number 37 Squadron C130 Hercules from Richmond, north-west of Sydney, are ready for another day of missions deep inside Iraq or Afghanistan.
As the first rays of sunlight begin to glow on the desert horizon signaling another blistering hot day in the high 40s, the flight crew of six arrives for briefings about the mission that lay ahead in a work day that could stretch to 15 hours. Most of the crew will fly close to a hundred missions during their deployment. Their destination today is Baghdad.
In the giant belly of the aircraft pallets of cargo are strapped down and troops sit shoulder to shoulder. For decades the C130 has been the heavy lift workhorse of the RAAF, transporting troops and equipment to and from the front line.
Descent into Baghdad is a high workload time in the cockpit as the crew quickly and safely manouevre the aircraft towards the runway. Sometimes the descent and approach takes place at night, but more often at this time of year operations in and out of Baghdad occur in the midst of sand storms which greatly reduce visibility.
There’s no time wasted offloading passengers and pallets of cargo – often the engines aren’t even shut down. With more troops and equipment loaded, the C130 is soon up and away again, a process that could be repeated by each C130 crew half a dozen times on any given day at any of a number of airfields throughout the Middle East Area of Operations.
| 20080609adf8246638_070 Soldiers from Combat Team Waler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil, Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080610adf8246638_005 A RAAF C-130 Hercules arrives at Ali Air Base, Tallil, Iraq to take more soldiers home to Australia. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080610adf8246638_063 Soldiers from Combat Team Waler board the C-130 Hercules at Ali Air Base, Tallil Iraq for the first stage of their journey home to Australia. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080616adf8237885_010 A C130 Hercules crew from Richmond's Number 37 Squadron briefs prior to a mission in the Middle East Area of Operations. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_074 C130 Hercules Loadmaster Sergent Errol Taylor (right) ushers soldiers on board the aircraft ahead of a flight into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_076 Loadmaster, Warrant Officer Andrew Greer gives a pre-flight briefing to troops prior to a C130 Hercules mission into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_080 Loadmaster, Warrant Officer Andrew Greer gives a pre-flight briefing to troops prior to a C130 Hercules mission into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_085 Soldiers aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules aircraft doze prior to entering Iraqi airspace during a flight into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_090 Loadmaster, Warrant Officer Andrew Greer, maintains a careful lookout for ground fire once the Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules enters Iraqi airspace. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_094 After entering Iraqi airspace in the RAAF C130 Hercules, Australian troops, with helmets and body armour on, pass the time in their own way prior to their landing in Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_099 C130 Hercules pilot, Flight Lieutenant Glen Nelson from Penrith near Sydney, enjoys the view from the Captain's seat during a mission carrying troops and cargo into Iraq. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_102 C130 Hercules Loadmasters, Warrant Officer Andrew Greer (left) and Sergent Errol Taylor, relax on the cargo ramp at the rear of the aircraft prior to entering Iraqi airspace during a flight into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_105 Freight is quickly unloaded by forklift from the RAAF C130 Hercules after its arrival in Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_106 Freight is quickly unloaded by forklift from the RAAF C130 Hercules after its arrival in Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080620adf8237885_110 Sergent Errol Taylor (left) and Warrant Officer Andrew Greer (right) usher troops off a Royal Australian Air Force C130 Hercules after their arrival into Baghdad. (Date taken: 20 June 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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