Airmen drop vital supplies to village in Afghan mountains

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 416th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan (AFPN) --  Packed with more than 13,000 pounds of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies, an Ohio Air National Guard C-130 Hercules crew deployed here flew over the Afghan mountainous region Feb. 10, successfully dropping critically needed cargo to the remote area.

“Our basic mission was to airdrop vital supplies to the Afghan people located in isolated areas as well as our troops at forward firebases,” said Senior Master Sgt. David Leightenberger, a loadmaster on the mission. “Airdrops like this one ensure the immediate delivery of needed supplies in areas that are normally cut off during the winter by snow or by the nature of the rugged terrain itself. It also demonstrates the flexibility of the air supply operation in the theater.”

To even go on the mission, the crew faced a weather delay for the drop zone area, Lt. Col. Brian Lake, the mission’s aircraft commander, but just after noon, they lifted off and made their way to the drop area.

“The mission went very well,” Colonel Lake said. “We arrived over the drop zone within thirty seconds of planned drop time -- exactly on target.”

The navigator responsible for the planning is Maj. John Bletner.

“He did this,” Colonel Lake said, “despite having to guide us through severe thunderstorms and low ceilings and visibility conditions en route. The Soldiers received all of their supplies exactly where they wanted them.”

Major Bletner said the mission, demonstrated the flexibility of what they do.

“It is an example of how we can effectively use one of our military’s unique capabilities to deliver humanitarian relief supplies any place, any time,” he said.

“After flying over 650 nautical miles…we arrived over the drop zone within 30 seconds of our scheduled time,” Major Bletner said. “It also shows our fellow patriots in the Army that we can be counted on to get the job done. If there is something you need, and it’ll fit in a (Hercules), just pick up the phone and give us a call … we deliver.”

On the word “go” Staff Sgt. Josh Blakely released and then watched the two-and-a-half tons of cargo go out the back of the Hercules. The loadmaster said the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Airmen here had been trying to deliver the goods for a few days, but the weather had not been cooperating.

The Guard C-130 was equipped with an Adverse Weather Delivery System, “which means we can fly and drop supplies where others can’t,” Sergeant Blakely said. “We had to wait a little bit, but we got the supplies there on time. The drop went off without a hitch, and the bundles landed right were they wanted.”

This airdrop was not the first and certainly will not be the last for Operation Enduring Freedom officials said. But it is successes like this that demonstrate how military services can work together to meet the needs of deployed troops anywhere, anytime.