Airdrop over Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force loadmasters assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron conduct an airdrop from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft over the southern region of Afghanistan on Sept. 2, 2009. Pallets are being air-dropped to provide needed supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Airdrop over Afghanistan

An Airman loads a pallet into the cargo bay of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on Sept. 2, 2009, at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. The pallet will be airdropped over the southern region of Afghanistan to provide needed supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Airdrop over Afghanistan preparation

Staff Sgt. Jeramia Valentine, a loadmaster assigned to the 816th Airlift Squadron, configures the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on Sept. 2, 2009, prior to the plane taking off for an airdrop mission over southern Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Loadmaster checks the rigging before an air drop

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sam Stewart, a loadmaster assigned to the 816th Airlift Squadron, checks the rigging of a pallet loaded into the cargo bay of a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 2, 2009, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The pallets will be air-dropped over the southern region of Afghanistan to provide supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Airdrop over Afghanistan

A U.S. Air Force loadmaster assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron monitors pallets as they are airdropped from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft over the southern region of Afghanistan on Sept. 2, 2009. Pallets are being airdropped to provide needed supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Airdrop over Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force loadmasters assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron conduct an air drop from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft over the southern region of Afghanistan on Sept. 2, 2009. Pallets are being air-dropped to provide needed supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Airdrop over Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force loadmasters assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron conduct an air drop from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft over the southern region of Afghanistan on Sept. 2, 2009. Pallets are being air-dropped to provide needed supplies to ground personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

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Photo essay: Airdrop over Afghanistan

Published Sept. 16, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- On Sept. 2, a crew of Airmen with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron completed an airdrop over southern Afghanistan for deployed forces on the ground.

The airdrop pallets were prepared and loaded at Bagram Air Field and flown to their airdrop zone aboard a C-17 Globemaster III.

Through Aug. 28, Air Force and Air Mobility Command aircraft have airdropped more than 8.6 million pounds of cargo in direct support of forces on the ground in deployed areas, according to figures from the Air Forces Central's Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia.

These photos highlight the airdrop effort of Sept. 2 over southern Afghanistan.

Airdrop over Afghanistan

Airdrop over Afghanistan

Airdrop over Afghanistan preparation

Loadmaster checks the rigging before an air drop

Airdrop over Afghanistan

Airdrop over Afghanistan

Airdrop over Afghanistan