171st Aviation Squadron (Australia)
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The 171st Aviation Squadron is an Australian Army helicopter squadron. The 171st Aviation Squadron is equipped with S70A Blackhawk helicopters and provides support to Special Operations Command (Australia). The Squadron is currently based at Holsworthy Barracks near Sydney and forms part of the 6th Aviation Regiment.
The 171st Aviation Squadron was formed in 1971 as a command and liaison squadron. The Squadron later formed part of the Australian 1st Aviation Regiment where it was equipped with UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and flew in the operational support role. In late 2004 the Squadron swapped designations with A Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment and became an independent unit.
On 29 November 2006 a 171st Aviation Squadron Blackhawk helicopter crashed during Operation Quickstep while attached to HMAS Kanimbla off the coast of Fiji. The helicopter's pilot, Captain Mark Bingley, and Trooper Joshua Porter from the Special Air Service Regiment were killed in the crash.
[edit] See also
- U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - Night Stalkers
- Italian 26th R.E.O.S. Special Operations Helicopter Unit
- British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
- Canadian 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
- French 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment
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