Exercise Kiwi Flag provides Pacific partners platform to enhance aerial deliveries

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson | Uniformed service members representing four nations share the burden as they lift a recently-recovered G-11 parachute onto an awaiting transport vehicle during a combined cargo air-drop operation supporting Exercise Kiwi Flag Nov. 14 at the New Zealand Defence Force Raumi Drop Zone near Ohakea, New Zealand. Recovery personnel from the United States Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Armed Forces, Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army worked side-by-side amid the sand dunes nestled between a pine forest and the coastline. The group is participating in a subject-matter-expert exchange to enhance interoperability in combined air-drop operations. Kiwi Flag is a multilateral Royal New Zealand Air Force-sponsored tactical airlift exercise comprising air assets from the U.S. Air Force, RNZAF, RAAF, RSAF and French Armed Forces of New Caledonia. Kiwi Flag personnel are supporting Exercise Southern Katipo - held on New Zealand's South Island - by managing air operations and providing cargo and passenger airlift including tactical air drops to SK participants. SK hosts nine countries involved in air, land and maritime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson/Released)  

OHAKEA, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

11.14.2013

Story by Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson 

Pacific Air Forces

OHAKEA, New Zealand - Multinational partners perform tactical air drops from the ramp of a Republic of Singapore Armed Forces C-130 Hercules during Exercise Kiwi Flag Nov. 14 at the New Zealand Defence Force Raumi Drop Zone near Ohakea, New Zealand.

The cargo plane dropped palleted cargo to awaiting service members from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the United States. The group is participating in a subject-matter-expert exchange to enhance interoperability in combined air-drop operations.

Kiwi Flag is a multilateral Royal New Zealand Air Force-sponsored tactical airlift exercise comprising air assets from the U.S. Air Force, RNZAF, Royal Australian Air Force, RSAF and French Armed Forces of New Caledonia. Kiwi Flag personnel are supporting Exercise Southern Katipo - held on New Zealand's South Island - by managing air operations and providing cargo and passenger airlift including tactical air drops to SK participants. SK hosts nine countries involved in air, land and maritime operations.

• Date Taken: 11.14.2013
• Date Posted: 11.22.2013 20:16
• Story ID: 117270
• Location: OHAKEA, AUCKLAND, NZ
• Hometown: COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US