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Iraqi air force passes combat test in Basra

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Callahan
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  The expanding capabilities of Iraq's air force were tested in combat during an Iraqi-led offensive in Basra from March 27 to April 3.

In support of Operation Knight's Charge, Iraqi airmen from Baghdad's New Al Muthana Air Base successfully performed their first tactical airlift operation.

"I'm proud about our people, and satisfied with all missions," said Brig. Gen. Kareem, the base's commander.

After receiving personal phone calls from the Iraqi Minister of Defense and the commanding general of the Iraqi Air Force, General Kareem commented, "We've gained the confidence that we can do the job by ourselves and the confidence that we can support our army."

Iraqi airmen supported their army by pushing two of their C-130s to maximum capacity. They successfully delivered 265 tons of cargo and 2,400 military passengers while evacuating 97 casualties from Basra to Baghdad.

On the operation's busiest day, the Iraqis hauled 103,000 pounds of cargo, performed 37 medical evacuations and transported 44 passengers and five Iraqi soldiers who were killed in action. According to Master Sgt. B.A. Lund, a loadmaster adviser from the Coalition Air Forces Training Team, these statistics aren't just impressive for Iraq's air force. They would be impressive for any air force.

The Iraqi air force's successes in their first combat airlift operation did not come without challenges.

The initial challenge happened before the first aircraft left the ground. Equipment, ammunition and food needed to be packed and moved quickly from the air base to the Iraqi troops in Basra. This required the Iraqi airmen at the air terminal operations center to "surge" to eight times their regular day-to-day tempo in order to properly prepare the cargo for airlift. Operations center Airmen worked 24-hour days to ensure the supplies reached the troops who needed them.

"They went from sleepy hollow to prime time," said Capt. George Henney, a base support unit adviser with the transition team.

The Iraqi airmen displayed initiative by beginning cargo-moving preparations without assistance from the team's advisers, but U.S. Airmen were anxious to get into the action.
"The 447th Aerial Port jumped at the chance to work with the Iraqis," said Senior Master Sgt. William Mahaffey, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. "Preparing cargo for airlift is what we do, so to have a major impact on the war in this manner was a shot of adrenaline."

Once the C-130s began shuttling cargo and passengers between New Al Muthana and Basra, another challenge emerged. To keep the hard-working aircraft up to par, the Iraqi aircraft maintainers worked above standards, said Capt. Norris Thompson, a maintenance advisor.

"If you would have told me, a maintenance officer, 'you have to sustain a flying (operation) program for six to seven weeks with one airplane,' I would have said 'no way.' But, they did it," he said.

The Iraqi airmen also overcame a medical training obstacle. The Iraqi medical staff was not fully trained to deal with the physiological stresses that occur to in-flight patients, said Dr. (Lt. Col.) Sean Collins, a medical adviser. Doctor Collins said that once he conveyed the in-flight medical concerns to the Iraqi airmen, they took the reigns and successfully cared for the patients.

"I'm extremely proud of the work they did because they had never been exposed to this type of environment," the doctor said. "It was incredible."

As the operation unfolded, mounting casualties seemed to drive the Iraqi crews to work that much harder, to push that much further, according to American advisors.

The Iraqi soldiers who paid the ultimate price were not forgotten during the hectic surge operation. They were honored by both Iraqi and coalition forces with an impromptu patriot detail.

"Sometimes they led, sometimes we led, but it was always both of us, Americans and Iraqis, lined up to pay our respects," Capt. Jens Lyndrup, a navigator adviser.

Despite the many challenges presented to the Iraqi airmen, they were able to successfully provide tactical airlift in a combat environment with very little involvement of U.S. airmen or aircraft.

"We are on the right track for a great air force in the future," said General Kareem.

The goal of the Coalition Air Forces Transition Team is to build a credible air force in Iraq with a solid foundation for future growth. From the standpoint of many transition team members, the airlift support during Operation Knight's Charge has earned the Iraqi air force a significant amount of credibility.

"This was an Iraqi mission," said Doctor Collins. "Everybody performed spectacularly."