• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Military / Iowa Air National Guard headed to Australia

Iowa Air National Guard headed to Australia

February 11, 2011 By Matt Kelley

F-16 Fighter Jet (photo credit: Iowa National Guard)

The Iowa Air National Guard is preparing for a training exercise in Australia.

Guard spokesperson Colonel Greg Hapgood says the “Sentry Down Under” mission will involve around 125 airmen. “The earliest the airmen will depart Iowa will be sometime this weekend,” Hapgood said. “They’ll spend about three weeks in Australia working with their Australian counterparts.”

The Guard’s contingent will include members of the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines and the 185th Air Refueling Wing of Sioux City. The aircraft will include eight F-16 fighter jets and a KC-135 air refueling tanker – one of the largest aircraft in the world.

The U.S. and Australian militaries have a long history of working together, but this is the first time the Iowa National Guard has sent airmen to Australia. “This is just a tremendous opportunity for men and women of the Iowa National Guard to get a better understanding of how Australia’s Air Force works,” Hapgood said. “They are a partner we’ve worked with on numerous occasions overseas in combat theaters, but the more familiarity and understanding we have of how they do business will just make that relationship even better.”

The Iowa airmen will be stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Military

Featured Stories

Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’

DOT plow crews struggling against blizzard conditions

Death penalty proposed for specific child murder cases

Iowa delegation breaks along party lines on Trump impeachment vote

Two northeast Iowa men admit to illegally harvesting ginseng

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI adds two nonconference games to basketball schedule

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC