Unfolded to save lives

Airman 1st Class Tyler Lecates and Staff Sgt. Michael Burch, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit maintainers, prepare a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter main rotor for propeller alignment Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The maintenance unit received the helicopter from a unit in Afghanistan. Airmen Lecates, a native of Allentown, Pa., is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Sergeant Burch, a native of Black, Ala., is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Unfolded to save lives

Staff Sgt. Keith McCarthy, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit H-60 crew chief, reads a technical order that recommends the best way to off-load a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The helicopter is part of an exchange program that swaps low maintenance-hour aircraft for high maintenance-hour aircraft. Sergeant McCarthy, a native of El Paso, Texas, is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Unfolded to save lives

Airman 1st Class Brain Whitcomb, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, pulls cable from the C-17’s deck pulley system to attach to a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The C-17 can change its cargo bay to accommodate almost any load. Airman Whitcomb is deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sgt. David Bennett, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit instrument and flight control systems specialist, unwinds a chain in preparation to offload a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. In order to save time, fuel, and wear and tear on the helicopter it is folded up and loaded in a cargo aircraft. Sergeant Bennett, a native of Crawfordsville, Ind., is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Unfolded to save lives

Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit, off-load a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The HH-60 folds to fit the confines of a C-17. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sergeant Eric Clayborn, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit fuels technician, walks back to the lead vehicle after confirming the safety of the helicopter being towed Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The 22,000-pound aircraft is towed at five mph, which is well suited for the unit’s low-geared Bobtail tow vehicle. Sergeant Clayborn is a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sgt. Michael Burch, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit crew chief, services the right-main landing gear strut on a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The struts are over filled with hydraulic fluid to ensure that the nose of the aircraft does not hit the load ramp of the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft while unloading. Sergeant Burch, a native of Black, Ala., is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Senior Airman Ronald Hastings, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit crew chief, unfolds the tail rotor of a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter after Airmen received it from a unit in Afghanistan Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The H-60 family of helicopters can be folded for ease of transportation. Airman Hastings, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Unfolded to save lives

Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit, unfold a propeller to a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter after receiving the helicopter from a unit in Afghanistan Aug. 12, 2010, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The HH-60 is a four-propeller helicopter that replaced the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant in 1981. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Unfolded to save lives: Deployed Airmen transport combat search and rescue helicopter

Published Aug. 24, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Most high-value cargo is transported by air.

A HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter was placed in this category when it got to be a passenger in a C-17 Globemaster III from Afghanistan Aug. 12, 2010.

The 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit trades their helicopters here for helicopters requiring maintenance that cannot presently be done in Afghanistan.

However, the helicopters that come to Joint Base Balad need to be folded and stuffed into the aircraft for the journey and then unfolded upon arrival. This process may take several hours to accomplish.

"The 64 EHMU Airmen do whatever it takes to make the mission happen," said 1st Lt. Brian Kim, 332 EAMXS 64 EHMU officer in charge, a native of Fullerton, Calif., deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "We maintain combat search and rescue capabilities around the clock."