Photos of United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell AH-1Z 'Viper' and Bell UH-1Y ‘Super Huey’ Over Bowen During Amphibious Landing

As reported below, on Monday 22 July, defence personnel from Australia, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom conducted a series of complex amphibious activities at Bowen in the Whitsundays, as a part of joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS19).

Personnel from the Australian Army, British Royal Marine Commandos, US Marines and Japan Self-Defense Forces all came ashore in an amphibious assault securing the beach where they landed before they then moved throughout the city on foot and by vehicle to secure other objectives such as the Airport, as well as the community of Bowen itself.

During the exercise, air support was provided by a pair of US Marines helicopters in the form of Bell UH-1Y Venom (Super Huey) serial 169104 / Code EP-33 and Bell AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter serial 168528 / Code EP-??, which circled over the town.

The Viper and Venom helicopters are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) "Dragons" and are believed to be deployed on board the US Navy ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20) which is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.

Much earlier - in the wee small hours in fact - also on Monday 22 July, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lockheed KC-130J Hercules 169532 (Tail Code QD-9532) "Sumo 96" was noted completing two visits to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport flying in from and back to Townsville.

Plus the rare sight of a pair of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Japanese Army) Kawasaki CH-47JA Chinook helicopters of 104 Hikotai were also involved in the exercise at Bowen ferrying personnel from and back to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003).  CH-47JA Chinook helicopter JG-2977 (Code HGPIV) was photographed enroute to Bowen Airport.

We hope to be able to bring you more photos of these very rare visitors to Australia in the coming days!

Sincere thanks to Townsville-based photographer Ian H for allowing us to share these great photos of some great helicopters to grace the skies of CQ during Ex Talisman Sabre 2019!

Defence Images plus photos taken by Ian Hitchcock  ©