'Bob' marks mission milestone

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Pamela Smith
  • 320th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) --  A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron marked a milestone Jan. 26 when it reached 30,000 flying hours while performing a combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The aircraft, from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and now serving at a forward-deployed location, achieved this feat during touchdown on an airfield in Afghanistan while delivering mission-critical people and supplies.

Nicknamed "Bob," the aircraft was built in 1963. It is a veteran of the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and continues to answer the call during the war on terrorism.

"(Bob) represents 40 years of military history that spans both peacetime and war-time operations starting with Vietnam and now with OEF," said Col. Richard Johnston, the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and pilot of Bob's historic mission. "It was an honor to be part of this milestone in the rich heritage of theater airlift."

For some, 30,000 flying hours means very little because they are not familiar with flight or measuring distance. For those who keep track, 30,000 flight hours is the equivalent of more than 300 trips around the world. A feat like that can be credited to the aircraft itself and the hard work and dedication of its crews and maintainers.

"We do a job and that's to keep the aircraft flying," said Senior Airman Matt Kauffman, a 778th EAS dedicated crew chief. "The C-130 can do a variety of missions that no other aircraft can do and has proven repeatedly that it's the best."

Kauffman, who is deployed from the 463rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock AFB, takes pride in his aircraft and being part of something that has been around longer than he has.

"To know what this aircraft has seen and done and made it through, it's an honor to be (working) on it," he said.

Bob made its first appearance during the Vietnam War, followed by missions in Grenada and Somalia. It also helped transport more than 189,000 tons of cargo during Operation Desert Storm. Its current mission has it ferrying troops and supplies into Afghanistan and throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Besides OEF, it is also being used for Operation Southern Watch.

The C-130 has stood the test of time and is popular with the militaries of the world because it brings great versatility to the fight.

"The Herk's flexibility gives warfighting commanders unmatched capability to take the fight to the enemy, sustain our forces and return our troops to friendly lines when the mission is complete," said Lt. Col. C.K. Hyde, 320th Expeditionary Operations Group commander. "The Herk is a cornerstone of our current combat operations because it lives and works in the trenches; our troops are never alone when the C-130 is on duty."

First Lt. Mike Trodden, co-pilot deployed from Little Rock, said it is notable that during his first deployment, he is spending it on an aircraft that flew in Vietnam.

"It say's a lot about the durability of the aircraft," he said.

The crew members that flew Bob have shown durability themselves, having a combined total of approximately 30,000 flying hours. Johnston, deployed from the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB, Texas, joined the Little Rock crew of Maj. Woody Ganis; Maj. Paul Cobb; Trodden; loadmasters Chief Master Sgt. Andre Greene, Senior Master Sgt. David Joslin and Tech. Sgt. Jimmie McKenzie; and Kauffman. All are assigned to the 778th EAS.

No one knows how many more flight hours Bob will accumulate, but the crew is keeping the faith.

"There isn't a maintainer in our squadron who will let an aircrew step onto an aircraft we wouldn't fly on ourselves," Kauffman said, "and I'm confident this aircraft will get me home every time."