Speckled Trout takes detour to aid deployed Airman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jet Fabara
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  “Airmen helping Airmen” is a statement that is made often in the ranks of the Air Force.

High-ranking Air Force leaders and a C-135C Speckled Trout crew from here demonstrated it Nov. 11.

The crew was preparing to leave Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper, said Maj. Michael Mote, 412th Flight Test Squadron assistant director of operations and aircraft commander. The leaders were returning to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following a trip to visit troops stationed at and deployed to the area.

Before they started the engine, Incirlik command post officials asked if the crew could take an emergency-leave passenger stateside.

Because of the aircraft’s mission, space-available passengers must be approved by the distinguished visitors onboard, Major Mote said. And they did.

Officials said a Tennessee Air National Guardsman needed the flight because his daughter had been placed on life support, and attending doctors were not sure if she would live.

Major Mote said the aircraft's radio operators were able to patch the Airman through to the hospital as soon as they took off.

"The beauty of the communications systems we have onboard the Speckled Trout aircraft is that he was in continuous contact with his family (at) the hospital; that wouldn't have been possible if he was sitting in a terminal in Turkey," Major Mote said.

Once the plane was over Europe, Secretary Roche told the crew that he wanted to take the Airman straight to the airport in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Airmen had to see if they could get enough fuel from the air refueling tanker, continue despite a failed generator problem and get permission to land and take off from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn., on Veterans Day. Fortunately, they could.

Near the end of the 14-hour flight, the crew delivered the Airman as close to the hospital as possible, said Capt. Mark Weiner, 412th FLTS training flight commander and aircraft navigator.

"As Airmen, we normally associate air power with delivering combat power around the world when called upon to do so, but this mission was unique because we demonstrated global reach with a humanitarian outcome. This mission started out like many others, but in the end, we were able to use the aircraft's and crew's unique capabilities to come to the aid of a fellow Airman," he said.

"In the end, knowing that the (family was) together again made the trip all the more worthwhile for everyone," said Lt. Col. Ed Topps, 412th FLTS commander. “The rerouting of this sortie shows that our most senior Air Force leaders are concerned about our Airmen and their families, and are willing to make decisions to help them whenever possible."