Chinook Tear Down

Over one hundred Australian Defence 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 that 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 utilized 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 the 30th March 2007.

"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." Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Humphreys, who commanded both the first and last rotations explained.

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