C-17 crew delivers vital supplies to Soldiers

  • Published
  • By Capt. Anna Carpenter
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Manas completed the base's first combat airdrop mission when they dropped vital supplies to Army units engaged in combat in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 23.

Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered 28 containers of ammunition weighing approximately 50,000 pounds to troops near anti-coalition forces.

Capt. Josh Larsen, aircraft commander, led the crew deployed from the 10th Airlift Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Also aboard were pilots Capts. Matt Coleman, David Morales, 1st Lt. David Myrick and loadmasters Tech. Sgt. Nate Gershon and Senior Airman Chad Rasmussen.

Maj. Brad Hall, the Det. 1 commander, said it was the first combat airdrop for most of the crew, though they were specially selected for this mission because of their experience with other airdrops.

Captain Larsen, a C-17 weapons school graduate, and Captain Coleman, who has extensive delivery experience dropping everything from water to missiles, acted as mentors to the rest of the crew, Lieutenant Myrick said.

The pilots worked together with ground controllers to identify the drop zone and waited for clearance to drop. Inside the aircraft, they determined when to release the load based on its weight, parachute type, winds and other weather conditions, Major Hall said. The pilots timed the drop so the load arrived on the pre-planned point of impact, all while tactically avoiding known enemy threats.

The loadmasters ensured the pallets were rigged and the parachutes were packed correctly. Once given the green light, they released the load and ensured there were no malfunctions.

"It was a big thrill," Lieutenant Myrick said. "The troops on the ground really needed the ammo. It was awesome to be part of a mission that provided supplies vital to taking the fight to the enemy on a daily basis."

"We have a lot of pride in the fact we were picked to do this," he said. The C-17 can deliver a larger quantity of supplies than the C-130 Hercules can, though it hasn't been used in an airdrop capacity as often as the C-130. He said he's glad they were able to show what the C-17, Manas AB and Det. 1, 817th EAS can accomplish together.

"I hope we can do this more," Lieutenant Myrick said.