Combat Shadows helping with Liberia

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kristi Beckman
  • 398th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
LUNGI, Sierra Leone, (AFPN) --  Airmen from the 398th Air Expeditionary Group embarked on a refueling flight Aug. 6 in an MC-130P Combat Shadow, originally from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, now supporting operations in Liberia.

The mission was to refuel three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, also part of the 398th AEG, from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, that were on an infiltration mission to the American Embassy in Liberia.

The helo mission is greatly enhanced by the MC-130P, said Capt. Sonny Noyes, 398th AEG airborne mission commander for this mission.

“The tanker adds flexibility for contingency operations, as well as providing a command and control platform for our mission,” he said.

The 398th AEG airmen walked onto the giant plane through the back doors and secured a red jump seat, although there would be no jumping on this mission. The loadmasters handed out floatation devices and made sure all earplugs were secure. Vapors, created from the African humidity outside, poured from the air conditioning inside the aircraft.

The crew is made up of two loadmasters, two pilots, two navigators, one flight engineer and one radio operator. This type of mission is normal for this particular crew, as they work with helicopters all the time.

The loadmasters prepared the plane and passengers for takeoff.

“We are specialists in the weights and balances of the plane,” said Staff Sgt. Carlos Clements, loadmaster. “We make sure the cargo meets the weights, and we are the eyes and ears of the pilots.”

Taking off with a powerful thrust, the Combat Shadow pushed everyone toward the back of the aircraft. Situational awareness is key particularly in this area, said Capt. Sid Bridges, MC-130P Combat Shadow pilot for the mission.

“We had to fly down to get out of the storm,” said Bridges, referring to a big ice storm on the way to Lungi. “There’s no radar environment here. Everything is based on timing, so you have to roll the dice that there are no aircraft around.”

Out of radio communication for about 10 to15 minutes because of the storm, they had to descend without telling anyone about it.

“It’s OK if you can see, but when you can’t, it makes the hair on your neck stand up a little bit,” said Bridges.

Noyes said the chance to be an airborne mission commander during an operational mission, from a Combat Shadow, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Air battle managers are trained to perform as AMCs,” said Noyes. “Being currently stationed at the 932nd Air Control Squadron, (Naval Air Station) Keflavik (Iceland), I would never have envisioned being deployed to Africa during this assignment. I truly appreciate the trust my commander had in sending me, and the trust the crews of the 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron have placed in me to perform the mission.”

The MC-130Ps got the call for this mission when they were in Iceland training with the HH-60Gs.

“Africa is one of our areas of responsibility,” said Clements. “We tend to be pretty much everywhere. We’re very adaptable and capable. Whatever our customer needs is what we do.”

Bridges said the hardest thing with refueling the helos is that most tankers use automatic pilot.

“This is all-hands flying, so maintaining a stable platform is our main goal, enabling these guys to get their gas and go about their business,” Bridges said.

When refueling began, the back steel doors of the MC-130P opened up 500 feet above the ocean. Soon three HH-60Gs were in sight. The drogues (refueling lines) glided out of the plane on each side. Each Pave Hawk has a refueling probe that sticks out the front that the helicopter pilot has to align and connect with the drogue, which is a little larger than a beach ball.

Despite whipping winds, pounding rain and thick fog, all three helicopters took on fuel, fell back into a line formation and then dove down under the plane, off to finalize their operation.

“Because of the refueling and command and control the tanker provided, the helos were able to complete the mission,” said Noyes. “Four aircraft and crews returning to base safely -- that’s good teamwork.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)