Two Army C Squadron CH-47D Chinooks have returned to Afghanistan, bolstering the International Security Assistance Force’s heavy lifting capabilities for the approaching summer.
The Chinooks arrived by RAAF C-17s in early and mid March and are embedded with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade based at Kandahar Airfield, southern Afghanistan, for an eight month deployment over the Afghan summer.
“Every year when we first arrive in Afghanistan we have a significant job to do.” Commanding Officer of the detachment, LTCOL David Lynch, said in a statement. “Once the first aircraft arrives it’s all hands on deck to get it up and running and test flown for serviceability so we can commence operations.”
The deployment is the fifth Chinook detachment by C Squadron to Afghanistan since the Army’s CH-47s first began operating there in March 2006.
