Our Journey

Air Commodore Alan Titheridge was announced as commander of an ADF contingent deployed to Kuwait in anticipation of renewed conflict with Iraq in the Persian Gulf. The Australian Government decided to support US forces by deploying a contingent of 110 Special Air Service (SAS) troops, along with two B-707 tanker/transport aircraft and 80 Air Force personnel. Although the Iraqi Government defused the crisis by agreeing to cooperate with UN inspectors looking for weapons of mass destruction, it was decided to retain coalition contingents in the area for the time being.

The first detachment of about 70 personnel from No 84 Wing arrived at Manas airport outside Bishkek, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, as part of the international coalition formed in response to terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 September 2001. Operating from Ganci Air Base, a tent city set up alongside the Manas airfield, the RAAF detachment’s two B-707 aerial tankers provided an air-to-air refuelling capability for the more than 350 coalition fighter aircraft striking into Afghanistan, seeking to topple the Taliban regime there which had provided a terrorist haven. The detachment included air and ground crews from No 33 Squadron, and personnel from 84 Wing, No 1 Combat Communications Squadron and No 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron. A changeover of replacement personnel arrived in June, before the detachment withdrew in September.

The last of the Air Force’s fleet of six Boeing 707 transports made its farewell flight over Sydney to mark the end of this type’s 29 years of service with the Air Force, both as long-range troop carriers and in-flight refuelling tankers.