Fed: Howard farewells servicemen on deployment to Afghanistan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
Fed: Howard farewells servicemen on deployment to Afghanistan

WILLIAMTOWN, NSW, April 18 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has farewelled one of the
first groups of servicemen about to be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Australia's
increased commitment to the war-torn country.

Members of the Air Combat Forces fly to Kandahar on Tuesday to take over the control
and surveillance of the airspace over Afghanistan.

The initial group of 27 will eventually swell to a 75 strong unit when it completely
takes over the role from the US forces in August.

The Australians will have authority over every aircraft in Afghan airspace and its environs.

"Every aircraft which gets airborne in Afghanistan will be under Australian control,"

said the unit's commanding officer Wing Commander Paul Turner.

Mr Howard paid tribute to the RAAF for the vital role it will be playing in disrupting
the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"The fact we will be providing radar capability as part of the increased Australian
deployment to Afghanistan is a tribute to the famous professionalism of the men and women
of the RAAF," Mr Howard told the members of the unit at the Williamtown air force base
near Newcastle.

"I thank you very, very much for everything you are doing for Australia".

The government announced last week it would deploy an extra 300 special forces soldiers
to southern central Afghanistan.

AAP pm/rp/was/cp/jlw

KEYWORD: HOWARD AFGHAN (PIX AVAILABLE)

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