Description
For nearly two weeks, every flight had the same purpose: getting people to safety.
As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated in August 2021, Australian Defence Force personnel worked around the clock at Kabul Airport, helping evacuate Australians, visa holders and vulnerable Afghans.
For Flight Lieutenant Johnathan Gough, a C-130J Combat Systems Officer, the operation was unlike anything he had experienced. Personnel processed evacuees, secured movement through the airport and prepared aircraft for departure, while aircrew operated in a crowded and uncertain environment.
"The pace, complexity and uncertainty were unlike anything I had experienced in my career, yet the mission gave everyone a clear sense of purpose: getting people to safety."
Working alongside Australian Government agencies and coalition partners, ADF personnel helped evacuate more than 4,000 people from Afghanistan.