The Two United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed MC-130J Commando II Hercules Aircraft - 10-5714 “Hogan 23” and 14-5793 “Hogan 24” - Spotted at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

On Monday 26 July, I was lucky enough to photograph the two visiting United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed MC-130J Commando II Hercules aircraft parked at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  They had arrived into the Whitsundays late on Sunday 25 July from RAAF Base Amberley.

The two Hercs have been identified as 10-5714 "Hogan 23" and 14-5793 "Hogan 24" and are believed to be flown by the 1st Special Operations Squadron (1 SOS) which is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base in Japan.

They had originally arrived into the region at Bundaberg Airport last week, flying across from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.  It was interesting to note that while at Tindal, the Hercs operated alongside United States Army (US Army) special operations helicopters - two Sikorsky MH-60M Black Hawks and a single Boeing MH-47G Chinook - from 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (160th SOAR (A)).

Defence Image...

It appears the MH-47G Chinook called into Cairns Airport, also on Monday 26 July, arriving from Hughenden as "Jude 63".

Nice!