KC-10 flight engineer reaches 400 combat sorties in Southwest Asia

Published May 27, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It took 11 deployments of working on two different airframes and more than 1,900 flying hours to achieve, but Master Sgt. Clifford C. Hughes surpassed more than 400 combat missions as a flight engineer May 21, 2010, at a non-disclosed base here.

Sergeant Hughes, a KC-10 Extender instructor flight engineer with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, reached the rare milestone following a combat air refueling mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sergeant Hughes first gave credit to the entire KC-10 team for helping him achieve the feat.

"It is quite impressive to be a part of such a team," said Sergeant Hughes, who deployed from the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "Those who I fly with...well... it will just be a matter of time before they hit 400 as well."

Sergeant Hughes has deployed five times, including his current one, with the 908th EARS and the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Prior to flying on the KC-10, Sergeant Hughes flew as a flight engineer on the MH-53 Pavelow helicopter where he deployed six times on that airframe.

In all, the career aviator said he has served more than 900 days on deployment supporting missions for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Sergeant Hughes said he remembers his first combat mission very clearly.

"It was as a flight engineer on an MH-53M Pavelow infiltrating an assault force to breach an enemy compound in Afghanistan shortly after Sept. 11, 2001," Sergeant Hughes said. "It was the reward for over a year and a half of what some have said as being some the most rigorous training in one of the most demanding career fields one could hold in the Air Force as enlisted member at the time. It was awesome... although if I were a cat... I feel I kind of burned up a few of my nine lives on that deployment with the near misses and all."

During his combat missions in 2010, Sergeant Hughes has made an impact on supporting the warfighters on the front lines in areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. According to statistics from Mr. Yancy Mailes, 380th AEW historian, KC-10s assigned to the 908th EARS and the Airmen who support and fly them flew more than 230 missions off-loading nearly 35 million pounds of fuel to more than 2,100 aircraft from January through April 2010.

Sergeant Hughes said to get to the 403 combat sorties he has participated in through May 27, it's been a lot of hard work by everyone he's worked with throughout his career.

"Well I'd have to say it has been a long road," Sergeant Hughes said. "I look back at the guy I was when I was gearing up for missions on the mighty MH-53 and the things that we did, most of which, looking back seems so surreal to be a part of. Now, being part of a force providing the constant availability of fuel in the deployed areas to keep those forces safe with armed over watch puts it into perspective.

"I have a lot to be thankful for and to be proud of and also to try to remember to receive each day as a gift," said Sergeant Hughes, whose hometown is Goshen, Ohio. Just this deployment, a fellow engineer and friend I used to fly with on the MH-53 lost his life on a combat mission aboard a CV-22 that crashed in April -- leaving his loved ones behind. It is a sobering reminder that what we have often comes at a price and I have been fortunate to have served with some of the finest of military members -- those who don't take lightly about what it means to be serving as a member of the U.S. military."

Sergeant Hughes said he will continue to do his part. He said he enjoys his job tremendously and knows that it's all about getting the mission done - whether it's 400 times in the combat environment or at home station.

"The flying is something that I've enjoyed throughout my life," Sergeant Hughes said "It's rewarding. I'd say it is one of the jobs that you usually don't have to look far to see the product of your efforts. That said, I'm just doing my part to make sure I work with those on my crew to be the best possible platform out there when it comes to getting the receiver the gas needed to accomplish their mission."

The 908th EARS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.