C-5 support for Operation Enduring Freedom continues

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ted Theopolos
  • 445th Airlift Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  Air Force reservists continue their support for Operation Enduring Freedom. On a recent flight to Germany on December 8, the aircrew from the 445th Airlift Wing transported equipment and supplies. This was the 33rd mission to Germany in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since the beginning of the year the wing has transported over 107 million pounds. Good statistics for a wing that is still in conversation status.

About 75 minutes after leaving the base, the C-5 landed at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to take on cargo before going overseas. A 60K-Tunner Material Loader, commonly called a K-loader, showed with pallets at the aircraft. Pallet after pallet was loaded until the aircraft was full. Twenty-eight pallets and two rolling stock were loaded. Cargo included two jet engines, medical supplies, fire extinguishers, lithium batteries and a host of flammable liquids.

One piece of equipment was on daisy-chained pallets and was too tall to load from the rear of the aircraft. Loadmaster Senior Airman Danielle Kremer halted the loading after she found out the size of the container was 121 inches high while the aircraft opening is only 108 inches. With quick thinking, loadmasters knelt the aircraft and raised the visor. The vertical floor was moved horizontally to become level with the aircraft floor that extended out the front of the aircraft. Loadmasters secured four jacks under the extended floor to support the heavy cargo to be loaded.

The C-5 and crew were soon on their way to Germany flying all night.  A work rest cycle was established. While all stations were manned, others took a cat nap or read something they brought along. Rest is their main priority before it's their turn to man their positions. The aircraft  arrived the next day at Ramstein Air Base after 1200 in the afternoon. The reason for the late arrival was quiet hours in Germany. No aircraft can land at the base before noon on Sunday.

After being parked, loadmasters prepared the aircraft to be unloaded and then jumped on the bus with the pilots and engineers and traveled to the Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) to plan for the next day's departure.

Because of a special event on the base, there was no billeting available. By the time the crew arrive at their hotel, there was only a little more than 12 hours before the 3:30 a.m. alert. With such little down time, most grabbed dinner and hit the hay.

The next morning the crew was alerted and the owner of the hotel got up early to prepare the crew breakfast before climbing on the bus to travel back to the base to prepare for the long flight back to the states. The crew thanked the owner for the hot meal as they left and she headed back to bed.

The load going back to the states was not large at all, but was more important than any other. It wasn't the rockets or ammunition the crew was flying back, but a fallen U.S. Army soldier from the battle against terrorism. A casket draped with the American flag was carefully placed on the aircraft. All gathered around and looked at the well lit carrier. "Humbling," said one of the loadmasters.

"There is no higher honor given to an aircrew than the opportunity to fly home a fallen soldier," said pilot Capt Michael Bennett. "Those flights are the most memorable,"

After the pilots arrived at the aircraft from AMCC, the flight was soon on its way. Pilots flew the aircraft at 265 knots per hour at an altitude of 31,000 feet. At that altitude, the sun's brightness seems to go on forever. The clouds below look like white cotton balls clumped together. The large vastness of the open sky could easily get one lost without the pilots keeping a keen eye on the instruments and tweaking the heading every now and then.

Flight Engineer Master Sgt. Jon Winters monitored his engineer panel, which had more gauges and knobs and than a two-year old's busy box. Every hour on the hour the sergeant passed forms to the pilots for their review.

"They're fuel forms to inform the pilots of how much fuel was used and how much was left," said Sergeant Winters.

Although the pilots have radar to warn of other aircraft in the vicinity, pilots scan the skies like a lighthouse beacon, always looking. This became more prevalent as the aircraft approached the eastern seaboard where more aircraft traffic picks up.

After a 9 hour 40 minute flight, the C-5 touched down at Dover AFB for the second time on the trip.

The cargo was swiftly taken off leaving only the fallen soldier. The crew formed up at the back of the aircraft to participate in a ceremony. The crew saluted the draped casket as it was carried off the aircraft. They saluted again after a prayer and words about the solider mentioned by an Army Brigadier General.

"It's not about the cargo, it's not about us (the crew), bringing home one fallen soldier to his family brings my life into a much clearer perspective," said pilot Lt. Col. Philip Pierce.

After the ceremony and the pilots filing a flight plan at base operations, the crew and aircraft was soon off. At approximately 6:15 p.m., the crew was back to Wright-Patt completing a three-day mission that covered 7,418 nautical miles, transported 83,954 lbs., of cargo and returned one fallen soldier.