Red Tail Express makes final delivery

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Don Perrien
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Trucks. Lots of trucks. Trucks with aircraft parts, refrigerators, wall lockers, office desks, computer equipment, construction vehicles -- some even hauling other trucks, along with hundreds of other odds and ends. All these items are loaded and strapped onto 18-wheelers and flatbed trailers, winding their way across dusty desert roads.

Except for the armed escorts flanking the front and rear, it looks like a scene from a large-scale flea market robbery. However, this 21st century caravan is the Red Tail Express, delivering the parts, pieces and supplies needed to help create an air base out of the remains of a battered airfield.

As American forces pull out of Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, the Red Tail Express made its last delivery here recently. More than 20 trucks filed into the vehicle-holding area, unloading the salvaged pieces of one air base to build a new one.

"Without the Red Tail Express, Tallil would not be what it is today," said Capt. Anthony Min, 486th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. "Every time the Red Tail Express came through the front gates, it was like Christmas for us."

Besides Tallil, the Red Tail Express provided materials and equipment to Baghdad International Airport and Kirkuk AB in northern Iraq. In total, 59 convoy trips ventured from Al Jaber, traveling almost 30,000 miles through hostile areas of Iraq, delivering more than 7,000 short tons of cargo.

The idea to move such a large amount of equipment through desert roads began at Al Jaber when two of the base's senior leaders tried to find a way to transport more warfighting material into theater as quickly as possible.

Maj. Dave Flippo and Chief Master Sgt. Frank Washburn, of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, had more goods to move into Iraq than they had airlift to move them. Mission-essential equipment, including ammunition, fuel and water, was needed farther north -- and quickly.

Squadron officials had access to a lot of trucks and motivated men and women to drive them. Airmen from across the wing even volunteered to pull shotgun escort duty. Pilots, maintainers, cooks and even two different wing commanders volunteered for the trip north into Iraq. Every unit of the wing contributed people for the hazardous journey. Thus, the Red Tail Express was born.

Washburn came up with the name Red Tail Express to commemorate the Tuskegee Airmen, who painted the tails of their aircraft red to distinguish them from other fighter wings. The 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing, comprising units at Tallil, Baghdad and Kirkuk, is the legacy of the World War II aviators who never lost a single plane they escorted. The modern-day airmen had the same goal with the Red Tail Express, getting each truck and each airman home safely.

"There were some rough moments, especially during the first few runs, but everyone who went out on a Red Tail mission came home (safely)," said Staff Sgt. Robert Mejia, convoy liaison for U.S. Central Command Air Force.

"Probably one of the most tense situations on any of the convoys was during our third trip out," Mejia said. "We were alert for members of Saddam's fedayeen, who may be hiding out along our route. And sure enough, as we were driving along, a black-robed silhouette popped up near the roadside.

"I raised my weapon and waited to see if he would do anything, but he didn't," Mejia said. "As we passed by, I could look out my rear view mirrors and see each of our trucks in turn raise their weapons toward that area -- but fortunately, not a shot was fired."

Not all the memorable events encountered by the Red Tail Express were of the life-threatening variety; some of them were more humorous than harmful.

"From time to time, the convoy would have to stop because a vehicle or piece of equipment would break. We expected things like that to happen," Mejia said. "But one time we had to stop for a camel crossing. That was one thing we didn't expect to happen.

"I mean there wasn't a whole lot we could do; they were there first," he said. "So we made the best of it, taking pictures and laughing at the situation. It's not every day you can stop a fleet of military trucks with 20 to 30 camels crossing the road."

According to Min, who was on the receiving end of the convoys here, every convoy and every delivery made a difference for everyone involved with the Red Tail program.

"The Red Tail Express convoys were a complete total-force effort; active-duty, Guard and Reserve members," Min said. “We brought the materials needed to establish a bare base and did so safely and efficiently."

Almost six months after the first trucks of the Red Tail Express headed into Iraq, the final vehicles are being unloaded at the cargo area here. The trucks have delivered mission-essential items including A-10 Thunderbolt II and Predator RQ-1 parts, quality-of-life items such as furniture and air conditioners, along with oversized and salvaged items for almost every operational group on the base.

Three hours later, the last flatbed of the Red Tail Express has been unloaded. As it departs the cargo loading area, it winds its way back home across dusty desert roads. But the trucks leave behind more than the equipment and materials used to build Tallil; they leave behind a legacy -- the legacy of the Red Tail Express.