Surge participation by McChord reminiscent of the historic Berlin airlift Published May 21, 2010 By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Sixty-two years ago on July 2, Airmen in the 1-year-old United States Air Force made history with a mission which airlifted 2.3 million tons of coal, food and supplies to Berlin, Germany after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin had cut off all ground transportation through Russia. The Soviet blockade on West Berlin left its 2 million residents desperate for supplies, but no hope of relief in sight. Just three years prior, the U.S. had been at war with Germany, but despite the history between the country and its former enemies, the U.S. and its Allies were determined to demonstrate compassion and commitment to democracy. They put a plan into action which would lay the foundation for today's airlift force. Today, McChord Field is making history again, increasing operational capabilities under an already stressed airlift tempo. At any given time, nearly 60 percent of McChord's flying crews and maintenance technicians are directly involved with surge operations currently under effect in the Area of Responsibility. It was clear, in 1948 as Airmen like Air Force Col. (ret.) Gail Halvorson, dubbed the 'Candy Bomber', airdropped candy to hungry and oppressed children of Berlin, that the capabilities and the impact of airlift were far-reaching. Today, Air Mobility command continues to build on that strong airlift foundation, consistently and exhaustingly providing combat and humanitarian capabilities with speed, accuracy and skill. Since March 2010 the 62nd Airlift Wing alone has delivered more than 11,000 tons of cargo, up 50 percent from the average for the end of 2009. The 62nd AW, has nearly 6,000 flying hours, up nearly 30 percent from the average at the end of 2009 as well. Passengers moved is up 50 percent from the average at the end of 2009. "This is the least amount of people I've seen in the office. There are a lot of flying missions that keep people out and about," said 1st Lt. Ellie Morgan, 4th Airlift Squadron, pilot. "Overall, people are exhausted; everyone puts in long days. But at the end of the day we get it done and it's excellent work." Even though only the 8th Airlift Squadron is deployed from McChord right now, flying crews still fly missions in support of operations overseas. During the days of the Berlin Airlift, aircrews typical flew the distance between London, England and Berlin, Germany which is 582 miles. The flying distance between those who flew from Paris, France to Berlin, Germany is 545 miles. For today's missions, McChord crews will sometimes fly more than 10,000 miles to reach Afghanistan. A simple flight from Joint Base Charleston, S.C. to Ramstein Air Base, Germany alone is nearly 4,000 miles. "Crews now take 15-day trips to Afghanistan or Iraq, but they do come home. There are also 3-week rotations, that put you away for 21 days," Lieutenant Morgan said. "Local flights are airdrop lines that we fly twice a week, normally just to drop zone locations in Yakima and around Ft. Lewis." The 4th AS will be heading out in the fall, once the 8th returns. The remaining squadrons will continue flying missions as they do now, for up to 21 days. "Of course everyone would like to be home but the men and women of the 7th Airlift Squadron understand the importance of what we are trying to accomplish in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. James Sparrow, 7th AS operations officer. "Times are difficult on our Airmen, but the "never quit" attitude and the "can do" sprit keeps them moving forward every day." Generally, the 7th AS maintains around 60 percent flying operational mission at any given time with 10 percent of Airmen deployed and another 10 percent at off-station training. For the 4th AS, nearly 83 percent of pilots and loadmasters are on missions supporting the surge, seven percent are in upgrade training at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., while 10 percent are home at any given time. In the 4th, and similarly across each of the other squadrons, an aircrew member is gone flying operational missions approximately three weeks per month. Local training missions are being cancelled at a rate of about six missions per month in order to provide the Air Force with more aircraft and pilots for operational missions. Daily workload at the squadron has increased dramatically to support the surge. "The squadron has gone to minimum manning to allow for more crews on the road," said 1st Lt. Christopher Schlener, 4th AS pilot. "It is not unusual for those left at home to be completing the work of three to four Airmen who are on the road to keep the squadron running." According to squadron officials, McChord crews typically transport Army personnel deploying to the area of responsibility directly from McChord, more often than they fly cargo. Cargo is typically loaded from a staging area, like Joint Base Charleston. Along with unit equipment and supplies, crews are increasingly transporting MRAP (Mine resistant ambush proof) altering vehicles in support of operations there. "The surge has huge an impact in all of our Airman's lives and the squadron. The first thing you notice when you walk around the squadron is how quite it is, as we continue to keep crews on the 'road'," said Colonel Sparrow. "While many areas of the squadron find it difficult with less manning and no change in workload the attitude of "willing and able" has preserved and allowed the squadron to excel at its mission." Throughout Air Mobility Command, Airmen have moved about 74,000 passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo into (and around) Afghanistan since January. At the beginning of 2009, AMC was delivering almost 400 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen and more than 600 short tons of cargo per day to locations all over Afghanistan. Since then, our numbers have significantly increased to more than 600 warfighters and more than 1000 short tons airlifted per day in 2010.