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Air crews make record airdrop

  • Published
  • By by Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan
  • U.S. CENTAF Combat Correspondent Team
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  U.S. Air Force air crews marked an historic highpoint Oct. 11 as they completed one of the largest single airdrops in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom began. 

Two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped more than 60 bundles of cargo, weighing more than 85,000 pounds, over the Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan. According to Lt. Col. Brian Robinson, Air Mobility Division chief at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, the drop provided personnel on the ground with supplies needed to operate through the winter. 

Because the ground units required a large amount of supplies, two C-17s were used to complete the mission, instead of four C-130 Hercules'. 

"What sets this mission apart from previous ones is this is the first time we've used two aircraft to drop simultaneously on the same drop zone in the AOR (area of responsibility)," said Tech. Sgt. Marvin Mosley, a loadmaster on the mission. "We've done several single-ship drops which limits the amount of cargo you can drop at once. This particular mission consisted of two aircraft over the target at the same time and it's the first time [during combat] cargo has been air-dropped in a formation scenario." 

The decision to make the drop came about due to poor road conditions leading to the forward operating base, as well as force protection concerns, according to Colonel Robinson.

"Airdrop could deliver all the supplies in two to three minutes using the C-17s and minimize blue forces exposure on the ground and in the air," said Colonel Robinson. 

The crews flew from Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan to pick up the cargo here. They then flew over the drop zone and delivered the supplies before returning to Manas. The approximately four-hour trip spared Air Force Airmen from having to drive a possibly life-threatening convoy over a more than 200 mile route. 

Loading the aircraft was a big task in itself. Airman with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here usually process around 20 bundles in a night. On 
this night they processed more than 60. 

"This was different than our regular mission," said Staff Sgt. Eugene St. Hilare, an air transportation craftsman here. "It made us feel closer to the frontlines, and went amazingly smooth with the Army's help. It was a team effort." 

Capt. Ryan Orfe piloted one of the aircraft on the successful mission. He agreed that the airdrop not only got much needed supplies out ahead of harsh weather, but also helped keep convoy drivers out of harm's way. 

"Hopefully we're doing good and taking convoys off the road," Captain Orfe said. "That seems to be where a lot of the attacks on our troops come from. The more we can keep [the convoys] off the road, while at the same time keeping ourselves safe flying at higher altitudes ... it's a win-win for everybody."