The incredible photos detailing Operation Flood Assist

A RAAF C-27J Spartan conducts a reconnaissance flight of airfields in the Kimberly region. LSIS Jarrod Mulvihill shot this image, inside the aircraft, showing the scale of the flooding. Australia currently has 10 Spartans operated by No. 35 Squadron, which now focuses on peacetime operations such as search and rescue. The aircraft were initially bought as a replacement for the Caribou, to fit in between the Chinook and larger Hercules and C-17 Globemaster.

Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny took this photo of an Army MRH-90 Taipan delivering animal feed to Yeeda Station in the Kimberley Region of WA after it was cut off in January. It follows the once-in-a-century weather caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie, which left around 100 properties uninhabitable. Australia has 47 Taipans, operated by Army and Navy, but the fleet is set to be phased out to be replaced by Blackhawks and Seahawks.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force CH-47F Chinook carrying Australian Army soldiers from 7th Brigade prepares to land in Coraki, NSW. The small town is located where the Richmond and Wilson rivers meet and was one of the hardest hit settlements in Australia last year. It was later reported Coraki was marooned for five days by water until the ADF were able to break through and provide help. (Nicole Dorrett)

An Army loadmaster from 6th Aviation Regiment looks out over floodwaters from an MHR-90 Taipan in the vicinity of Wisemans Ferry, NSW. The helicopter provided food and water to communities after the Hawkesbury River flooded last year.

Two Army Taipans conduct aerial reconnaissance flights to assess the extent of flooding and search for civilians in distress near Camden, Warragamba Dam and Richmond, NSW.

An Army aircrewman from the School of Army Aviation and a young child are winched aboard a Taipan helicopter near Lismore, NSW. At one point last year, the Wilsons River reached 14.4 metres, surpassing all other floods by two metres. (Bradley Richardson, Defence)

Army soldiers from the School of Army Aviation arrive at RAAF Base Amberley in February 2022, after rescuing several south-east Queensland residents.

Australian Army aircrewman Warrant Officer Class Two Benjamin Dwyer from the School of Army Aviation prepares to conduct a rescue by winch of a community member from an MRH-90 Taipan, over Lismore.

All pictures courtesy of Defence