An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. aircrew builds relationships with Pakistan Air Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
  • U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera Team
CHAKLALA AIR FORCE BASE, Pakistan --  Four Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircrews from the 357th Airlift Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., are building relationships with their aircrew counterparts in the Pakistan Air Force as they aid Pakistan in flood relief efforts bringing supplies to people displaced by the raging waters covering approximately 1/5 of the country.

The aircrews, support Airmen and two aircraft forward deployed from the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 16 as the Air Force resumed humanitarian operations into Pakistan.

Many of the crewmembers agreed their first impression of devastation in the country was one of astonishment.

"We heard there was flooding, but we didn't know the magnitude of it. The amount of flooding is hard to explain in words," said Lt. Col. Steve Catchings, an Air Force Reserve C-130 pilot who's flown almost 6,000 hours in the aircraft. "You see towns where water is halfway up the buildings. You see people living on roofs. You see livestock floating on water. Their farms are just completely flooded. The roads have disappeared.

"The level of devastation is unimaginable until you can see it.... Even the pictures don't show the story," said the 18-year pilot. "The crew got real quiet the first time we saw it, when we got below the clouds and we could see. That (image) definitely told us why we were here."

As the crews got further into the country and more involved in the humanitarian missions, subsequent impressions showed a nation's government and military working diligently with international counterparts in their own efforts to transport food, water and supplies to people in need.

The Pakistan Air Force has "been doing some of the same types of things that we have done -- picking up a load from Islamabad and bringing it to different locations," said 1st Lt. Tim Dixon, an Air Force Reserve C-130 navigator on his first deployment. "They're well capable, they're great Airmen and they're doing a great job."

"Really it's their show and we're just working with them doing whatever we can to help," added Colonel Catchings. "They're doing a lot of the airlift, too. They've got airplanes on the ground... We're taking a lot of the stuff from Islamabad to the staging areas and then they're taking it from there on down to some of the other areas. And a lot of this stuff goes on to their helicopters to take it on down to the areas that airplanes can't get in to."

The Pakistan and U.S. C-130 aircrews dedicated to flood relief have taken great interest in each other, comparing aircraft and trading flight patches to show camaraderie and gratitude. They've also gone to great lengths to show their appreciation for aid the U.S. military is providing.

"They're C-130 folks, too, so they can relate to us. We've been showing each other each other's airplanes," said Colonel Catchings, a native of Navarre, Fla. "They help us (offload cargo), and they're also taking care of our customs and our flight plans and all of the other administrative stuff we need to get in and get out.

"There's always someone to come out and greet the airplane... and because we've been here so many times we're on a first name basis with them. Today, the base commander came out and brought us tea, juice and cookies. They're very thankful that we're here," he said.

The U.S. crews have built relations and received thanks at both Sukkur and Shahbaz Air Base near Jacobabad, Pakistan. Servicemembers and volunteers alike have crowded the aircraft once the engines are shut down and the ramp opens up to shake hands with the U.S. servicemembers.

"This has given me a perspective of what it means to help people. It's terrible to see the despair they're in and some of the tough situations they're having to face right now," said Lieutenant Dixon, a former enlisted avionics maintenance Airman. "But I'm glad to see there's a lot of support, from the Pakistani military and from the civilian areas, as well. We're glad to be able to help in any way that we can."