Operation Big Mango!!!!

More than 30,000 military personnel from 13 different countries have been taking part in the joint military exercise Talisman Sabre across regional areas in Queensland.

In Bowen, up to 900 US military officers have been among that contingent as part of the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) Exercise.

The total operation is named Talisman Sabre but there have been many operations within the overall exercise.

In Bowen, the American Joint Task Force 7 named their exercise “Operation Big Mango”.

Lt Jared McCully was one of the soldiers who addressed a crowd at Flagstaff Hill in Bowen last week explaining what had been happening during the exercise in Bowen.

There was a scale model on display, showing the ships, water taxis, and tankers involved in transporting the cargo from the ships to shore via Bowen’s Kings Beach.

Lt McCully said the exercise had been 14 months in the planning and 45 other beaches had been considered before Kings Beach at Bowen had been chosen.

He laughed candidly as he said he thought that Operation Big Mango sounded better than military jargon.

He said all the US personnel were appreciative of the welcome they had received from the Bowen community.

Many of the soldiers have been visiting the Big Mango during their stay in Bowen – and enjoying the delicious mango sorbets – as well as buying souvenirs to take home to their family and friends.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said there had been a lot of interest from locals and tourists about the joint military exercise.

The US officers have been staying at the Bowen aerodrome which has been transformed into a tent city for the past two months.

At the Bowen Aerodrome

343 tents

20 showers

200PAX dining tent

1 kitchen

36 porta loos

2 laundry trailers

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Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy with Lt Jared McCully, discussing the military exercise in Bowen.

Some of the US Military contingent from Joint Task Force 7 at the iconic Big Mango. Photos supplied

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