The last RAAF AP-3C Orion on operational duty in the Middle East area of operations has been welcomed home to Australia.
Orions from 92 Wing based at RAAF Edinburgh were first deployed in 2003 to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to forces in the Middle East, including Iraq, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. More recently 92WG conducted counter-piracy missions around the Somali coast area.
Around 3,500 personnel were deployed with the Orions during the near decade-long deployment.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith and hundreds of personnel who were deployed to the Middle East were at Edinburgh to welcome back the last Orion.
Allan
says:Finally the Orions are home. Well done 92 wing. Great to have you home.