| Accession Number | P04159.093 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Parker, David Dare |
| Place made | Qatar |
| Date made | c April 2003-May 2003 |
| Conflict |
Iraq, 2003-2013 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
Rear of RAAF P3 Orion aircraft, Middle East Area of Operations, 2003
Description
The rear of an RAAF P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft on the tarmac at Al Minhad airbase prior to an operational flight. The Orion is receiving its pre-flight maintenance from members of the ground crew. The aircraft is powered by four Allison T56 turboprop engines and can reach a speed of 660 kilometres per hour. The detachment, commanded by Wing Commander (Wing Cdr) Terry Mackinnon operated with two P-3 Orion aircraft and approximately 150 personnel from around Australia. Their main role in the Middle East was to support the Coalition fleet through surveillance activities in the central Persian Gulf. The aircraft were used to locate and observe small vessels that could be used by the enemy for mine laying operations or launching a suicide attack. The P-3 Orion aircraft operated in the Middle East as part of the Australian commitment assembled to disarm Iraq.