Informal portrait of Nathan Triffett, a Loader with 171 Operational Support Squadron, 1st ...

Informal portrait of Nathan Triffett, a Loader with 171 Operational Support Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment, against a backdrop of palm trees, at the former Second World War airfield at Mbambanakira airfield, on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. In the visor of his flight helmet, an image of Australian UH-1H ‘Huey’ Iroquois helicopter A2-508, which has landed at Mbambanakira for refuelling, can be seen. Four Australian Iroquois helicopters were deployed to the Solomon Islands under Operation Anode, Australia’s military contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). They worked closely with four New Zealand Iroquois helicopters from No. 3 Squadron, RNZAF, to fulfil RAMSI’s reconnaissance, transport and medical evacuation requirements, including transporting personnel and equipment to and from the police posts established on the remote Weather Coast, which could be reached only by air and sea. In the first half of 2003, hundreds of local people from Malaitan ethnic groups were forced to flee the area around Mbambanakira, due to attacks by the Guadalcanal Liberation Front, lead by Harold Keke. Following the arrest of Keke by RAMSI forces on 13 August 2003, a police post was established at Mbambanakira, with logistical and security support provided by RAMSI military forces.