Air Force personnel have returned home after successfully completing two weeks of the most realistic and demanding tactical flying training available in the world during Exercise Red Flag 10-03.
RAAF Williamtown’s 77 Squadron led the activity with support elements from across Australia to comprise the 160 personnel and eight F/A-18 Hornets that deployed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada USA for the exercise.
Red Flag Deputy Director, Group Captain Gavin Turnbull, said Australian participants showed they are an effective part of a coalition team during Red Flag.
“The Australian forces worked closely with our coalition partners from the United States and United Kingdom to train together and also lead several missions in the highly specialised air combat war-fighting scenarios,” Group Captain Turnbull said.
“The many lessons to be taken away from this exercise will help us shape our training and influence the evolution of our networked Air Force.”
Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Glen Beck, praised his personnel for their professionalism and ability to work under pressure to ensure the exercise was successful.
“Our aircrew could not have met all the training objectives without the superb effort from the maintenance and support teams involved,” Wing Commander Beck said.
“Even our allies were commenting on our fantastic mission success rate and it’s a testament to the attitude and hard work that was put in by everybody involved. It was an outstanding team effort.”
The exercise involved more than 70 aircraft from the US, UK and Australia and was conducted in the Mojave Desert, Nevada USA between 21 February and 5 March 2010.
Australia has participated in Red Flag approximately every two years since the 1980’s as part of a long-term tactical training program necessary to maintain combat skills and readiness levels.
