April

RAAF's Awesome Foursome - Red Flag 09

Four No.6 Squadron f-111's wait for their turn to use the runway at Nellis Air Force Base and conduct their mission as part of exercise Red Flag 09-03. Red Flag 09-03 is a multinational exercise conducted by PACAF from Nellis Air Force Base from 21 Feb to14 Mar 2009.

RAAF aircraft and personnel deployed from RAAF Base Amberley and RAAF Base Richmond to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to participate in the US led exercise.

Participating in Red Flag 09-03 are aircraft and personnel from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Australian Squadrons have participated in the Red Flag exercise series since 1980.

Red Flag provides the highest level of combat training in the most realistic War scenarios available to be simulated.

No.6 Squadron from Amberley is leading the push with 6 F-111 jet aircraft conducting high level coalition training at the purpose designed Red Flag facilities.

Two C-130 Hercules from No.37 squadron at Richmond transported equipment and personnel to the United States and are also participating in the exercise.

Red Flag provides a level of operational simulation not available in Australia or the surrounding regions. Regular participation is a major contribution to Australia’s higher standard of air combat capability.

The opportunity to participate in Red Flag allows Air Force personnel to hone their skills to the highest level, together with our closest ally, at one of the world’s best air combat training facilities.

Wreckage of RAAF Aircaft found in Vietnam

  

Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver disappeared on 3 November 1970. They had conducted a bombing mission and were returning to base when their Canberra bomber was lost without trace.

The Australian Defence Investigation Team are confident they have located the Royal Australian Air Force Canberra bomber wreckage in thick jungle in an extremely rugged, remote and sparsely populated area of Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, near the Laotian border.

The Defence team has spent a week in the isolated province gaining information and hiking in to the wreck site. The recovery team deployed to the site by foot on Wednesday 15 April.

While no human remains were found, a number of military artifacts have been discovered including a club badge which was unique to RAAF’s No. 2 Squadron.