U.S. – Australia Relations
US Paratroopers Jump In for Exercise
Canberra — 4 May 2001
MSPA 122/01
Over 280 members of the US Army’s famous 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, "Geronimo 501" will be arriving in Singleton, Australia tomorrow (May 5 at 9am) to prepare for Exercise TANDEM THRUST 01 in a most unique way - feet first from 800ft under a parachute canopy.
Four United States Air Force C-141 Starlifter aircraft, twice the size of the Australian C-131 Hercules, will carry the Paratroopers from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii directly to a parachute Drop Zone near the Australian Army’s School of Infantry, approximately two hours north-west of Newcastle. The aircraft will hug the NSW coastline for approximately 45 minutes, flying at 1000ft and one nautical mile off the coast until they turn inland over Boon Island.
Upon deployment the unit will conduct a Company ground assault of the Drop Zone to complete the first phase of three weeks of intensive training with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR).
The oldest of the US Army’s elite Parachute Battalions, the 501st located at Fort Richardson, Alaska has a proud history, including:
- The famous test platoon, the prime ancestor of all US Combat Parachute Units provided the nucleus of the 1st Parachute Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment.
- As part of the 101st Airborne Division, the Geronimo 501 made its first combat jump into Normandy five hours before the sea borne landings of 06 June, 1942 (D-Day) as part of OPERATION OVERLORD.
- Is one of a very few US Army Regiments able to display 3 Presidential Unit Citation streamers on the unit’s colours awarded for action at Normandy and Bastogne during World War II and the infamous "Hamburger Hill" during the Vietnam War.
- The 501st’s ability to equip and deploy rapidly anywhere in the world is ably demonstrated by the unit’s current training jump into Singleton. Flying from Alaska to Hawaii then on to Australia, the Paratroopers will rig and conduct checks for the drop during the flight.
BACKGROUNDER
RELEASE: US PARATROOPERS JUMP IN FOR EXERCISE
- The 501st Parachute Battalion will be working closely with Australia’s own parachute Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) during Exercise Tandem Thrust.
- Like its American counter-part, 3RAR also has the proud honour of a US Presidential Unit Citation, awarded following the Battle of Kapyong in the Korean War in 1951.
- The C-141B is described as the "workhorse" of the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command. The primary function of the Starlifter is for long-range cargo and troop transport and each aircraft can carry 155 paratroopers or 31,000kg of cargo.
- A universal in-flight refuelling receptacle on the C-141B, with the ability to transfer 89,649 litres in about 26 minutes, means the aircraft has unlimited range. The C-141B is 51 metres in length with a wingspan of 48.7 metres and has a cruising speed of 500 miles per hour.
- The four aircraft will enter Australian territory over North Solitary Island (off Coffs Harbour) and will then turn south and fly down the east coast of Australia at 1000ft).
- The aircraft will be travelling about 1 nautical mile off the coast, prior to turning inland over Boon Island, on the way to the parachute Drop Zone.
- Once the drop is completed, the aircraft will fly to RAAF Base Richmond where they will land, completing the massive journey that started in Alaska.
Original document from www.defence.gov.au.
Last update: Tuesday, 15 December 2009 GMT+1100
