23 April 2007

First Air Force Helicopter Departs For Timor Leste

The first of the two Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois and support crew has departed New Zealand in support of the Combined Joint Task Force already serving in Dili.

Loaded aboard an Air Force C-130 Hercules, the first rotation of 18 personnel left RNZAF Base Ohakea at 8am this morning.

On hand to farewell the personnel from RNZAF Number 3 Squadron, based at Ohakea, were Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott and Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Rear-Admiral Jack Steer.

The Iroquois and crew will work alongside Australian Defence Force aviation assets already in Timor Leste to insert and extract patrols and assist with the provision of aero medical evacuation and air logistic support. The squadron is no stranger to operations in Timor Leste having served with the United Nations between 2000 and 2002.

Another Iroquois and 14 support crew will depart Ohakea for Timor Leste on Thursday 26 April. The 32 strong contingent will remain in Timor Leste for approximately three months as the first rotation of what will be a 12 month deployment.

ENDS

© Scoop Media