Battambang, Cambodia, 1993-05. Sikorsky S70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters of the Australian ...

Battambang, Cambodia, 1993-05. Sikorsky S70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters of the Australian Contingent Aviation Group, United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), parked in protective revetments on the apron of the local airfield. The aircraft are in Battambang to carry out electoral duties as part of Operation Gemini during the Cambodian national elections. The revetments were constructed by Thai Army engineers at the instigation and under the supervision of the Aviation Group. They were designed to protect both aircraft and air and ground crew from small arms attacks on the airfield, while at the same time being low enough to allow the aircraft to taxi in and out without assistance from tow motors. The revetments served both purposes well, with most importantly no crew members suffering injury nor aircraft sustaining damage from small arms fire, despite several attacks on the airfield. The area behind the revetments was designated as an unregistered minefield and was delimited by a wire fence. The Aviation Group was drawn from the Army Aviation Corps.