Another airdrop record crushed

The payload from a C-130J Super Hercules airdrop mission lands on target May 6, 2011, in Afghanistan. C-130s working out of Afghanistan experience unique wear from sand and rocks and require extra attention from maintainers. The C-130J is assigned to the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, which made 81 drops during the month of April, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Willard E. Grande II)

Another airdrop record crushed

A Loadmaster pulls the release cable on an airdrop load from a C-130J Super Hercules May 6, 2011, in Afghanistan. C-130s working out of Afghanistan experience unique wear from sand and rocks and require extra attention from maintainers. The Loadmaster is assigned to the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Willard E. Grande II)

Another airdrop record crushed

The payload from a C-130J Super Hercules airdrop mission exits the aircraft May 6, 2011, in Afghanistan. When supplies are delivered by airdrop, lives may potentially be saved by avoiding roadside attacks that are more common in Afghanistan. The C-130J is assigned to the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Willard E. Grande II)

Another airdrop record crushed

Published May 12, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here broke their airdrop record, again, by finishing the month of April with 81 airdrops. The C-130J Hercules unit had set the previous record, 72 airdrops, during March the month before.

The record setting pace has been keeping the maintainers busy, but they're happy to keep the operations tempo, since it means keeping the warriors on the ground in Afghanistan supplied and safe. When pallets are dropped, supply trucks do not have to make the dangerous drives and avoid potential Improvised Explosive Device attacks.

"It means something. We could be saving somebody's life," said Captain William McLeod, Officer in Charge for the 451st Expeditionary Airlift Maintenance Squadron. "And everything gets there faster."

The Airmen who maintain the C-130s described unique wear from the environment- sand creates problems for avionics equipment and computers and causes fans to heat up and burn out, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Evans, avionics lead technician.

There's also a lot of rock damage to lights and antennas, which need frequent replacing, added Staff Sgt. Justin Bordelon, a crew chief.

Captain McLeod described the maintainers as very humble about the records they've consistently helped to break. For the past three months, almost the entire length of their deployment to Afghanistan, the mix of active duty and reservist maintainers have broken squadron airdrop records.

"They're told to put planes in the air, that's what they do," concluded McLeod.

While the numbers quantify the hard work they've been doing, the accomplishment has been making sure the supplies go where they are needed.

"It's just a mission. We move people," said Evans. "If they need us to drop stuff, we drop stuff."

For the last few months, there's been a lot of stuff for his planes to drop.