2016 Military Exercise Angel Reign summary

Townsville RAAF base recently held Military Exercise Angel Reign (28 June - 7 July) which hosted RAAF, Australian Army, civilian agencies and international participants from the United States of America in the largest Air Force led field exercise in Australia for 2016.

USAF C-130, C-17 and KC-135 at Cairns, Photo by GAFLIKS.

The exercise focused on the tactical execution of Joint Personnel Recovery and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

USAF MC130P with two USAF SAR Pave Hawk helicopters
at Townsville, Photo by Leroy

Below is a summary of the US movements that were conducted through the region including Cairns and Townsville which hosted a number of C-130, C-17 and KC-135 aircraft movements.

Two USAF SAR Pave Hawks 88-26119 and 88-26120 and two MC130P's 66-0212 and 66-0219 operated throughout the period of the exercise from Townsville.

USAF C130's and KC135's at Cairns.

26th June 2016

RCH427 57-1427 K35R Hickam-Townsville 

57-1427 K35R at Townsville, Photo by Graham.

27th June 2016

RCH247 60-0366 K35R Hickam-Townsville

RCH104 96-7322 C130 Majuro-Townsville-Cairns

60-0366 K35R at Townsville, Photo by Leroy.

28th June 2016

RCH153 96-0005 C17 Hickam-Townsville-Cairns

KING66 66-0212 C130 Pago Pago-Townsville

KING61 66-0219 C130 Pago Pago-Townsville

RCH408 92-1532 C130 Majuro-Townsville-Cairns

RCH560 92-1535 C130 Majuro-Townsville-Cairns

92-1532 C130 at Cairns, Photo by Dave.

92-1535 C130 at Cairns, Photo by Dave.

29th June 2016

RCH247 60-0366 K35R Townsville-Hickam

RCH153 96-0005 C17 Cairns-(Hickam)

96-0005 C17 at Townsville, Photo by Graham.

30th June 2016

JOLLY91 88-26119 HH60 Townsville-Townsville

JOLLY92 88-26120 HH60 Townsville-Townsville

KING50 66-0212 C130 Townsville-Townsville

RCH104 96-7322 C130 Cairns-Pago Pago

RCH201 94-6707 C130 Kwajalein-Townsville-Cairns

RCH982 89-1181 C130 Kwajalein-Townsville-Cairns

88-26119 HH60 at Townsville, Photo by Leroy.

94-6707 C130 at Townsville, Photo by Leroy.

1st July 2016

RCH408 92-1532 C130 Cairns-Pago Pago

RCH560 92-1535 C130 Cairns-Pago Pago

2nd July 2016

RCH427 57-1427 K35R Townsville-Hickam

57-1427 K35R at Townsville, Photo by Graham.

3rd July 2016

RCH201 94-6707 C130 Cairns-Majuro     

RCH982 89-1181 C130 Cairns-Majuro  

89-1181 C130 at Townsville, Photo by Leroy.

 

7th July 2016

RCH805 61-0275 K35R Hickam-Cairns

RCH105 61-0309 K35R Hilo-Cairns

61-0275 K35R at Cairns, Photo by GAFLIKS.

8th July 2016

RCH941 02-1463 C30J Kwajalein-Cairns

RCH102 01-0189 C17 Kalaeloa-Cairns

RCH255 58-0062 K35R Hilo-Cairns

RCH805 61-0275 K35R Cairns-Townsville-Hickam

02-1463 C30J at Cairns, Photo by GAFLIKS.

9th July 2016

RCH685 85-1362 C130 Pago Pago-Cairns

RCH185 95-6711 C130 Pago Pago-Cairns

RCH806 96-7323 C130 Pago Pago-Cairns

KING61 66-0219 C130 Townsville-Pago Pago

KING66 66-0212 C130 Townsville-Pago Pago

95-6711 C130 at Cairns, Photo by GAFLIKS.

66-0219 MC130P at Townsville, Photo by Graham.

10th July 2016

RCH102 01-0189 C17 Cairns-Townsville-Hickam

RCH255 58-0062 K35R Cairns-Townsville-Hickam

58-0062 K35R at Cairns.

11th July 2016

RCH185 95-6711 C130 Cairns-Townsville-Pago Pago

RCH806 96-7323 C130 Cairns-Townsville-Pago Pago

RCH685 85-1362 C130 Cairns-Townsville-Andersen

RCH941 02-1463 C30J Cairns-Townsville-Kwajalein

85-1362 C130 at Townsville, Photo by Graham.

96-7323 C130 at Cairns.

15th July
RCH105 61-0309 K35R Cairns-Hickam

61-0309 K35R at Cairns.

The following list of USAF aircraft noted at Exercise Angel Reign 2016 with Unit details:

96-7322 C-130H Charlie West ANG 130AS
85-1362 C-130H Charlie West ANG 130AS
95-6711 C-130H Charlie West ANG 130AS
96-7323 C-130H Charlie West ANG 130AS
92-1532 C-130H Wyoming ANG 187AS
92-1535 C-130H Wyoming ANG 187AS
94-6707 C-130H Savannah ANG 158AS
89-1181 C-130H Tennessee ANG 105AS

02-1463 C-130J-30 Channel Island ANG 115AS

66-0212 MC-130P 130RQS Moffett
66-0219 MC-130P 130RQS Moffett

60-0366 KC-135R New Jersey ANG 141ARS
61-0309 KC-135R Wisconsin ANG 126ARS
61-0275 KC-135R Utah ANG 191ARS
58-0062 KC-135R Michigan ANG 171ARS
57-1427 KC-135R Kansas ANG 117ARS

96-0005 C-17A Stewart ANG 137AS
01-0189 C-17A Memphis ANG 155AS

88-26119 HH-60G 129RQS
88-26120 HH-60G 120RQS.

Special thanks for the contributions from GAFLIKS, Leroy, Graham, Dave and MRC Aviation.