MEMBERS of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have set up a temporary base at the Kempsey Showground.
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The base will provide vital communications to fighter jets involved in a large Air Force exercise taking place over the ocean off the Mid North Coast.
The Air Force personnel are from Number 3 Control and Reporting Unit (3CRU) based at Williamtown.
East Coast Air Defence Exercise (ECADEX 13) began yesterday (Monday) and will continue until Friday, September 11.
It will involve more than 35 fighter jets taking to the skies from bases in Amberley in south-east Queensland, and the RAAF base at Williamtown.
Eleven airmen were involved in setting up the base, with seven personnel based there for the duration of the exercise.
Sergeant Phillip Bond from 3CRU said the unit had been pleasantly surprised by how welcoming Kempsey had been to the RAAF.
“Everyone has been so friendly and the showground manager Steve Rowe made us a fire brazier which has come in very handy,” he said yesterday.
“Australian Solar Timbers even donated a load of firewood for us.”
While they are based in Kempsey the unit will be contributing to the local economy.
“We are doing a shop every couple of days and washing our clothes at the local laundromat,” Sgt Bond said.
“We will also be going shopping for some warmer clothes as we underestimated how cold it was going to be.”
The Commander of the Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Tony Grady, said ECADEX 13 was a vital training exercise for Air Force personnel to maintain operational capability and to practice key air defence skills.
“This exercise also provides an opportunity for Air Force personnel to maintain their skills associated with retaining the integrity of Australian airspace and protecting vital infrastructure, such as a shipping port or an airfield,” Air Commodore Grady said.
“3CRU have deployed to Kempsey as it is the perfect location to conduct vital communication of the aircraft taking off from both RAAF Base Amberley and RAAF Base Williamtown."
The commanding officer of 3CRU, Wing Commander Rob Saxton said the exercise scenario was designed to test passive and active air defence capabilities.
“A ‘Blue’ or friendly force will protect the integrity of Australian air space and key infrastructure against attack from a ‘Red’ or opposing force,” Wing Commander Saxton said.
