C-130 crews keep the supplies coming

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chuck Roberts
  • Air Force Print News
When coalition air forces erupted in battle full force, it was business as usual for Master Sgt. John Spillane and fellow aircrew members of the 320th Air Expeditionary Squadron.

As a C-130 Hercules loadmaster for the 320th AES, he and fellow cargo aircrews were busy setting the stage before the beginning of the air war over Iraq. Their efforts have been noticed.

"With the volunteer work of our Guard and Reserve units, (Air Mobility Command officials were) able to have the people and supplies in place so the president could act when he wanted to, without going through a mobilization effort," said Dr. James G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force, during a recent visit to AMC headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to visit with active duty, Guard and Reserve commanders.

The quiet buildup of resources in the Middle East before the opening days of the war, and the "spectacular" continued air support of AMC forces during the campaign will earn a place in the history books, Roche said.

"I think you've done some historic things, such that those who study conflict 50 years from now will probably have part of (a) chapter about this dramatic ability to allow American and coalition forces to fight from a great distance," Roche said. So far during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a majority of the 28,500 sorties have been mobility related; 5,300 airlift sorties and 5,800 refueling sorties.

The sorties have been long and varied for Spillane, who deployed from the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Aircrews have routinely put in 15-hour days flying low-level nighttime missions delivering the "beans and bullets" necessary to keep the war machine running.

Spillane said his unit also assisted in an aeromedical mission when two Marines were critically injured when their armored personnel carrier was struck by a rocket propelled grenade.

As a 20-year Air Force veteran, Spillane has served during the fall of the Berlin Wall and Operation Desert Storm. Spillane said he is "very proud of what we are doing here."

Maj. Dan Keneflick, a C-130 pilot deployed from the Minnesota Air Nation Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing with, said he marvels at the dramatic change of events that led him to supporting a war in the Middle East with the 320th AES.

"Just six weeks ago most of us were at our civilian jobs," Keneflick said. "Six weeks later ... we are flying ... with night-vision goggles. It's very impressive, and I'm proud to serve with these people who make tremendous sacrifices."

Since his arrival, Keneflick said he and fellow C-130 crews have been "all over the Persian Gulf" delivering whatever cargo is needed to keep Operation Iraqi Freedom on track. "You just do your mission," Keneflick said. "You realize you're a very small piece in a very huge puzzle. You just do your job and be satisfied with it."

Senior Airman Ryan Bechtold left one job for another. The loadmaster said the busy season is approaching at the campground he runs with his uncle back home in Minnesota. Bechtold said it was difficult leaving his uncle with twice the work, but knows his job is important.

Ammo, food, water -- "If it needs to be hauled into the (area of responsibility,) we haul it to them," said Bechtold, who also is with the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Capt. George Clark has seen a lot of the AOR through his cockpit window. The C-130 pilot, also deployed from Little Rock AFB, said he has "watched the sun go down and watched the sun come up again" during missions stretching to 12 hours of flying time.

Clark said his life has been made easier by the support of the Air National Guard. "It has been a very seamless integration," Clark said of the merging of active duty and guardsmen. "It's like we've been flying three to four years together." (Master Sgt. Karen Petitt contributed to this report)