Tactical airlift key to winning war on terrorism

Published Jan. 13, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- For every 24 tons of cargo airlifted in Iraq, a supply truck and two troops are spared a trip on a dangerous road. For every 50 passengers airlifted, one more busload of servicemembers is also spared from Iraq's dangerous roads.

Members of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron moves everything from Humvees to people via the C-130 Hercules, making mission accomplishment safer for ground troops.

"Our mission is to haul as much cargo throughout Iraq to keep Army convoys off the road," said Tech. Sgt. Mike Thomas, a 777th EAS C-130 loadmaster.

Squadron members fly about seven missions a day. Each mission consists of multiple sorties and can haul more than 40,000 pounds of cargo or roughly 90 passengers on each flight.

Aside from airlifting cargo, this Herculean horde also aids servicemembers who need transportation to the Air Force Theater Hospital for further treatment.

"Every mission we have varies," Sergeant Thomas said. "Yesterday I was part of an aeromedical evacuation mission that hauled 22 wounded passengers back to Balad (Air Base, Iraq) to seek further medical treatment or to continue onto Germany."

Another unique characteristic of the 777th EAS mission is overwatch support.

"Top cover is a mission we provide for the Army convoys where we fly to a certain location and orbit," Sergeant Thomas said. "We have battlestaff personnel who have direct communication with convoys and can relay information back so they can call in aerial support or a medevac team."

Assisting the aircrew in keeping the C-130s airborne are the Airmen of the 777th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, who maintain and repair everything on the C-130.

"Our maintainers specialize in what we call 'Red Ball' maintenance," said Chief Master Sgt. Charles Fletcher, the 777th EAMU superintendent. "When an aircraft is launching and has a maintenance problem, our technicians jump on board to troubleshoot it. When it happens, the maintainers have a 99 percent success rate in getting the mission off on time."

"Without (the maintainers), this mission wouldn't happen," Sergeant Thomas said.

Whether keeping servicemembers off the roads, ensuring cargo reaches its destination or getting the hurt and wounded to life-saving care, the airlift team fuels the fight, providing vital support to the war, Sergeant Thomas said.

"I never thought when the war broke out that I would have such a direct contribution to it," he said. "It makes me feel outstanding."