Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 - United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Hercules 18-5905 “Jackal 93” at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - Plus More!

In the very early hours on Tuesday 25 July, United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider gunship Hercules aircraft identified as 18-5905 as "Jackal 92" was noted departing Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport for RAAF Base Richmond. It seems to have flown up from there earlier around midnight.

File photo

As mentioned, it is one of two USAF AC-130J Ghostrider Hercs - 18-5891 "Jackal 93" is the second - that have been in Australia for a few weeks, based at Richmond and flying with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the recently completed Exercise Teak Action.  They are flown by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) 17th Special Operations Squadron (17th SOS) from Clovis Air Base, New Mexico.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 25 July, there was at least two more visits into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport by United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed MC-130J Commando II Hercules of the 1st Special Operations Squadron (1 SOS).  20-5946 as "Rogue 76" and 11-5731 as "Rogue 71" looked to both visit Prosie from RAAF Base Richmond.

Finally, late on Monday 24 July, a really unique visitor which was believed to also arrive into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport after ferrying all the way up from RAAF Base Richmond via RAAF Base Amberley, was a United States Army (US Army) Boeing MH-47G Chinook Special Operations Helicopter which was heard to be flying as "Thunder 11".

The MH-47G is a special operations variant of the CH-47 Chinook multi-role, heavy-lift helicopter.  It is in service with the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOC).  It is believed that there is a second MH-47G also at Richmond.

Photo taken by Zach Mason  ©