United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules 170284 (KB-0284) 'HCLS52' Pops into Rockhampton Airport

Late on Thursday 5 June, United States Marine Corps Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules with serial 170284 (KB-0284) as "Hercules 52" was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport from Darwin. It later departed North to complete airwork at Townsville before landing a short time later. Of interest, it had arrived into Darwin from Okinawa in Japan earlier in the week.

While the combined military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 is coming up next month, it seems this visit is in support of the deployment of USMC MV-22B Ospreys to Townsville and the smaller Exercise Southern Jackaroo which is reportedly underway in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

The Herc is of the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 (VMGR-153) "Hercules".  The squadron is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) and provides both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerial refuelling capabilities to support Fleet Marine Force (FMF) air operations in addition to assault air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies.  VMGR-153 is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Photo taken by Mary Marshall  ©