Image Gallery 2009
13 July 2009
Official Handover of the Control and Reporting Centre in Kandahar
Australia’s Force Element, known as 'Taipan', has overseen the air surveillance and air battle management of all Afghan airspace for coalition forces since August 2007. As of July 2009, 'Taipan' will hand over this responsibility to a remotely located United States Air Force facility. A ceremony marking the end of operations for TU633.2.5 was held at Camp Palomino at Kandahar and attended by Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Mark Kelly AO, United States Air Force Commander 451st Expeditionary Air Wing, Brigadier General Guy Walsh, Australian Air Component Commander, Group Captain Gary Martin, and Deputy Commander Support Command Kandahar Air Field, Group Captain Barry Thompson.
Operation SLIPPER is Australia's military contribution to coalition efforts against international terrorism. As part of this operation our forces contribute to the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, aimed at preventing Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists, and the United States-led International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) efforts in the broader Middle East.
| 20090709adf8083167_010 Australian Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Mark Kelly AO, addresses invited guests and members of Task Unit 633.2.5, the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), at a ceremony marking the end of operations for the deployable unit at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_085 The Australian Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Mark Kelly AO, congratulates United States Air Force Captain, Daniel Willems, having just presented him with the NATO medal for his service embedded with the Australian Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), Task Unit 633.2.5. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_094 Coalition and Austalian commanders bow their heads as the Padre of Task Unit 633.2.5, Squadron Leader Patrick Woods, leads them and members of the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) in prayer at a ceremony marking the end of operations for the deployable unit in Afghanistan, having completed their vital mission. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_109 Commander Task Unit 633.2.5, Wing Commander Stuart Briese, presents Lieutenant Colonel Gary Dawson, United States Air Force Commander 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, with a framed picture of the TPS-77 radar along with the United States and Australian flags in appreciation of the close relationship between the two countries during the handover of operations. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_142 A cake commemorating the end of operations for Task Unit 633.2.5 Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), is cut by (L to R) Wing Commander Stuart Briese, Commander Task Unit 633.2.5; Lieutenant Colonel Gary Dawson, United States Air Force Commander 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron; and Major General Mark Kelly AO, Australian Commander Joint Task Force 633. The cake cutting followed an official ceremony marking the end of operations and the handover to the United States Air Force. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_149 With coalition commanders as invited guests in foreground, Australian Commander Joint Task Force 633 recounts the valuable contribution of Task Unit 633.2.5, the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), during it's 22 months of operation at Camp Palomino in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The address was made during an official ceremony marking the end of operations for the CRC. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090709adf8083167_151 With coalition and Australian Air Force personnel paraded for an official ceremony marking the end of operations for Task Unit 633.2.5, the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), Australian Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Mark Kelly AO, recounts the valuable contribution of the CRC during it's 22 months of operation at Camp Palomino in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Date taken: 09 July 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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