Image Gallery 2007
05 April 2007
Australian Chinooks during Operation SLIPPER
More than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel have been operating from Kandahar Air Field, in southern Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission to rebuild the troubled country. The personnel who made up Australian Task Group 633.7 were part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s ongoing mission to support the Government of Afghanistan and to facilitate a secure and stable future for the Afghan people.
The majority of the Task Group was drawn from Townsville’s 5th Aviation Regiment. Task Group 633.7 operated two CH-47D Chinook helicopters, which were utilised in support of combat and logistical operations. The Chinooks are part of a coalition air support group, originally designated Task Force Knighthawk and later Task Force Corsair. The majority of the Task Force’s aircraft are drawn from the American Army.
The Chinooks began missions in March 2006 and flew their last mission on 30 March 2007.
Commander of both the first and last Chinook rotations Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Humphreys said the professionalism and work ethic of the men and women of the Chinook detachment has earned the respect and admiration of our coalition partners.
"Our aircrew, support personnel and our aircraft are world class and second to none, they have proved this time and time again. Pound for pound we have flown more missions than our partners, carried more material and personnel. This achievement was a result of the close working relationships between the US Army Aviation Task Force, our Australian Diggers and the other ISAF coalition partners with whom we have served. That the task group achieved all this in a high threat environment is a testament to the Australian Army aviators and the personnel that support them," LtCol Humphreys said.
| 20070330adf8502859_023 Evasive flying is designed to make the helicopter a hard target to hit. (Date taken: 30 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070330adf8502859_121 An Australian Chinook flies through worsening mountain weather during its final mission as part of ISAF. (Date taken: 30 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070330adf8502859_166 Australian Chinook "201" during the last Aussie mission on 31 March 2007 over southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 30 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_030 Warrant Officer Ian Barr inspects the interior of a Chinook aft pylon, during the dismantling of the aircraft for shipping back to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_231 Craftsman Mick Kinley removing a rotor blade from an Australian Chinook. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_271 Craftsman Dwayne Boon pressure cleaning a rotor blade before it is transported back to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_297 A dismantled Australian Chinook sits on the tarmac at Kandahar as its British counterparts continue their missions. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_303 An Australian Chinook undergoing "tear down" in preparation for its return to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_323 Craftsman Mark Marotta works through the night to dismantle an Australian Chinook in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_348 Corporal Jayson Vimpani and Sergeant Graham Forbes the framework to remove the aft transmission on a CH47. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_349 Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers work through the night to prepare two Chinooks for transport back to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_373 Technical Support Troop secure the forward transmission into its transportation cradle prior to the aircraft being shipped to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_406 Craftsman Patrick Good pressure cleans an engine cowling on the flight line in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_411 Corporal Simon Ramsay checks the maintenance panel inside an Australian Chinook at Kandahar Air Field. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_426 As the aircraft is broken down and cleaned, its parts are wrapped in preparation for its return to Australia. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_441 Two disassembled Australian Chinooks sit under lights on the flight line at Kandahar. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20070331adf8502859_465 A disassembled Chinook and its pieces on the flight line at Kandahar Air Field. (Date taken: 31 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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