Yokota C-130s continue to fly aid to tsunami victims

Air Force News ^ | 1/10/2005 | Master Sgt. Val Gempis

[mental]

1/10/2005 - UTAPAO, Thailand -- C-130 Hercules crews from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, continue to fly vital supplies and equipment to tsunami-stricken areas in Southeast Asia.

“It feels great to help. It makes you feel good to be an American when we are able to share with those who are in need,” said Maj. Brian Geromine, a C-130 pilot from the 36th AS.

The C-130s first flew into the damaged areas Dec. 28. They delivered much needed relief supplies to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia after tsunamis devastated parts of the countries two days earlier.

More than 155,000 people have died, several thousands are missing, and millions are homeless.

Floods cut off roads and bridges to most of the coastal areas.

Bottlenecks of supplies built up quickly as large-scale military and civilian aircraft ferried goods to various airports, officials said.

Yokota C-130 crews helped move life-saving food, water and medicines into places large aircraft could not access.

“We have the unique capability to get into smaller airfields and austere places. We were delivering relief supplies right into people’s hands as soon as we arrived here,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dave Niehaus, a flight engineer.

The Airmen said that the people coming out to meet the aircraft were very thankful for the supplies. Some of them had not eaten for days.

Squadron Airmen also said that because the aircraft arrived here before their normal support infrastructure, the crew had to load and unload relief supplies by hand.

The Yokota Airmen also said they are proud they have flown without a single flight cancellation.

“It’s incredible to see everyone step up to the plate and work around-the-clock. We’ve had some very long days, but everyone is glad to be here,” Sergeant. Niehaus said.

As of Jan. 9, eight Yokota C-130 crews have flown about 60 sorties. They delivered about 550 tons of relief supplies, moved more than 600 displaced and injured people, and flew various military and civilian international assessment teams to different locations.

PHUKET, Thailand -- (From left) Maj. Brian Geronime, Capt. Jason Fodor and Staff Sgt. Michael Whipple take off in a C-130 Hercules after they moved an engineering assessment team here Jan. 8. The crew is assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron in Yokota Air Base, Japan. The 36th AS first delivered relief supplies and equipment to tsunami-devastated areas in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka on Dec. 29. As of Jan. 8, the U.S. military had delivered 1,454,200 pounds of supplies, 433,840 pounds of food and 16,000 gallons of water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

[mental]

"...Egeland said he is baffled as to why rich nations are so 'stingy' with relief funds."

[Calpernia]

C-130 Hercules crews from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, continue to fly vital supplies and equipment to tsunami-stricken areas in Southeast Asia.

“It feels great to help. It makes you feel good to be an American when we are able to share with those who are in need,” said Maj. Brian Geromine, a C-130 pilot from the 36th AS.

[mental]

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[Bon mots]

We know where this is going in Indonesia.

"Hey GREAT SATAN! We're over here! I'm waving the flag...
Give us food. Give us water."

[mental]

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[Sarajevo]

Great cockpit photo's!

[Walkin Man]

Indonesia denies U.S. pilots use of airspace; carrier leaves

The aircraft carrier leading the U.S. military's tsunami relief effort steamed out of Indonesian waters yesterday after the country declined to let the ship's fighter pilots use its airspace for training missions — part of a broad effort by Indonesia to reassert control over its territory.

The USS Abraham Lincoln's diversion, which was not expected to affect aid flights, came as the White House asked the Indonesian government to explain why it appears to be demanding that the U.S. military and other foreign troops providing disaster relief leave the country by the end of March.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319784/posts

9.0 on ungrateful scale-Thanks for the help, but now get out,Indonesian veep tells U.S. soldiers

The Indonesian government yesterday showed its appreciation to U.S. soldiers who have been risking their lives helping tsunami victims by ordering them to get out of the country by the end of March.

"Three months are enough," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told the official Antara news agency. "In fact, the sooner [they leave] the better."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319855/posts

[windchime]

Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[freepersup]

Had the honor of being flown out of Afghanistan by aircrews from this unit today.

[mental]

Had the honor of being flown out of Afghanistan by aircrews from this unit today.

Interesting! Looks like they are working overtime helping those people.



Did they let you see the view from the cockpit?

[freepersup]

Actually, the topic of flying up front did come up... however, I elected to remain quiet and give others a shot at the primo seats... as I had the good fortune of riding shotgun on C-130's and C-141's several times before, (during my active duty days). Rigged up heavy drop loads for airdrop from these birds when serving as an airborne rigger at Ft Bragg, NC; also had a great job freefalling out of said birds.

[freepersup]

Forgot to mention- the aircrews were from Japan, the a/c was from Alaska.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This aircraft goes back to 1954, the year of my release from HS daze.....

*******************

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules,

Hercules

The United States Air Force C-130 Hercules
Description
Role	Multirole airlift transport, + many special variants
Crew	Varies, usually 3–5
First Flight	August 1954
Entered Service	April 1975
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Dimensions
Length	97 ft 9 in	29.79 m
Wingspan	132 ft 7 in	40.41 m
Height	38 ft 10 in	11.9 m
Wing Area	1,745 ft²	162.12 m²
Cargo Hold Dimensions	ft in x ft in x ft in	m x m x m
Weights
Empty	72,892 lb	33,063 kg
Loaded	155,000 lb	70,310 kg
Maximum Takeoff	175,000 lb	79,380 kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	4 Allison T56 turboprops (A-H models) 4 Rolls-Royce AE2100 turboprops
Power	4 x 4,910 hp	4 x 3,600 kW
Performance
Maximum Speed	386 mph	621 km/h
Combat Range	2,490 miles	4,000 km
Ferry Range	4,605 miles	7,410 km
Service Ceiling	23,000 ft	7,010 m
Rate of Climb	1,900 ft/min	580 m/min
Wing Loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics

[rabidralph]

Hoo-ray for Yokota AB. I was stationed there from '89-'91. Even had a layover in Utapao in '92.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Had the honor of being flown out of Afghanistan by aircrews from this unit today.

Thank you for your service....

You have a very interesting profile page,....thought I read you were a member of the Black knights....I have seen them perform a few times...they perform a great show and demonstration. Had some grandchildren see their performance and they found it spectacular and captivating.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Anything you can share with us about your experiences in Afghanistan?

[mental]

and the AC-130

[freepersup]

Thank you for your kind words... I might add, your identity is associated with (per my memory) engaging and articulate discussions with some real zingers thrown in for good measure...

One small correction: the USMA (West Point) has a parachute team affectionately known as the 'Black Knights', and the US Army has an (all enlisted) aerial demonsrtation team named 'the Golden Knights' (that would be the one that I served on/with. Both parachute teams share names synonymous with the colors of the US Army: (black and gold).


It was the big leagues and without a doubt, the best job that I ever held where I drew a paycheck (E-4 paygrade).

In hindsight, I regret not staying in and qualifying for one of the spec. ops. teams, currently plying their trade 'over here' in the war on terror.

[freepersup]

I landed in Afghanistan on memorial day, 2004, aboard a C-130 Herc.

The camp's flags were at half staff in honor of 4 SF warriors killed when their vehicle hit 3 anti tank mines. Sobering reality-

Went to work as a 'combat' carpenter :o), building various TOC's (tactical operation centers). Reassigned out of need, to a concrete form crew. Average daily high temperatures in the summer of 140 degrees farenheit.

Now working as a liaison at a concrete batching plant managed by Indians, employing Pakistan and Afghanistan local workers. I do QC QA work, although I am not paid the going rate for it, as is the ways of my employer.

I worked outside the wire, just on the other side of the camp boundary, for several months, until the camp expanded outwards about a kilometer. Now we are inside the wire. Had shooters at a security post providing some protection, most of time that I was at work. Actually, I wasn't supposed to be at the plant unless the Army was present, but I weighed the risks and accepted them, which meant I went to work about 2 hours before the Army got there and stayed about 2 hours after they left.

I have had my office rattled, on many occasions by the firing of artillery (training) and by planned EOD detonations nearby. A minefield was across the road from the plant boundary, where the US had dropped munitions (BLU-97's) and a company out of South Africa demined most of the mines in the AO. A few times it was safer to blow them in place, than to remove them.

Also in the distance, EOD would light up large accumulated amounts of ordnance creating huge showers of sparks and the classic mushroom clouds were always an added visual treat.

Apache gunships fire at (?) what, I honestly don't know, a lot. Sometimes I think that they are training, then other times it seems as if they are hunting the taliban on the perimeter.

Osama bin Laden had a training camp nearby, which is still standing on the horizon about 3-5 clicks away. It is a frequent target for training the Apache pilots on; they fire their Hellfire missiles at it.

The camp headquarters is housed in a building dubbed the TLS (taliban's last stand) as the US Air Force dropped a 2,000 lb. JDAM weapon into the center of the building effectively ending the last bit of resistance (here) by the taliban. The favored thing to do at this building is to fly a flag overhead and in return receive a very nice certificate stating the facts; the taliban bit the dust here and now we fly flags in the face of the enemy. Classic stuff...

Speaking of the taliban, one of these pieces of human garbage was aboard my flight yesterday and received medical treatment on a par with our troops. A major, 2 captains and an (unidentified rank) medical person tended to this oxygen stealing vermin. 2 of the C-130 aircrew assisted with the patient liter as well. 2 MP's accompanied this prisoner, known as a PUC (person under control) on the flight and 1-2 ambulance drivers transported the filthy sack of you know what, away from the a/c to the infirmary. I found out that this is routine protocol for these enemy wounded. The scumbag managed to vomit twice on the flight and our medical team cleaned this bastard up promptly and efficiently each time.

Across the road from the camp, sits 2 compounds housing the local warlords. Think of a mafia don on steroids and you have some grasp of their influence. They provide many useful things to the military and to the batch plant, such as rock, sand, people, etc. Flys in the face of democracy (albeit a hybrid Afghan version of democracy). Sat in my office on the day of the national elctions with a clear view of one of the warlords compounds, reflecting on what the election meant to the Afghan people, yet I was reminded of the long road ahead by the fact that the warlords are not about to go quietly into that good night.

Somebody with a much higher paygrade than mine will have to figure that one out.

I stood my ground with the warlord about 2 months ago when I refused to accept anymore of the trucks bearing rock that he was sending us, as he was trying to pass off tiny chips of rock, for the rock that we normally accept for use in the concrete, which is in the 20mm to 2cmm range. FWIW The US pays top dollar for this material at $150 a truck for rock and $200 a truck for sand.

It's a way for the US to reward the warlords for their support in the war on terror, as they helped us defeat / chase out the taliban. It beats just handing him money (as we did in the past) so that he may pay his standing private army.

A couple of the local workers that did some bad things while on the camp, were hung by the warlords according to the local rumor mill. Works for me... sends a message to the rest of the hired hands. Seems they were engaged in a form of espionage; duplicating the coveted camp security badges used by the locals for access and employment.

The wounded are brought in (medevac) often, so the fighting goes on. The news reports little to nothing on this fact.

The locals appear to be favoring our mission, as they are fatigued from war and we are not treating them like the Soviets did when they were here.

The average monthly wage of a local working stiff is about 5,000 Afghanis: divide by 44-45 and you get the US conversion rate of around $111 to $113.

Just before Christmas, Al Franken sat at my table at the chow hall at lunch time, dining before he made his way to a USO show slated for that afternoon.

Me, a freeper, having a conversation with the antithesis of the right ? Queerer things have happened in my life, but where and why I do not remember. Unbeknownst to me, Darrel Worley was in this crowd and only when leaving did I learn of his presence. One shocking thing that both Al and I agreed on, was that there is only one solution in Iraq, and that is to kill the enemy outright (real good).

I could go on with many other interesting details but I need to bug out soon. I will save some of the more specific details for a later response.

I refused to see Robin Williams while he was here in camp, performing with the USO tour show, as he is a known Bush basher. I stayed away from Al Franken's USO comedy routine as well.

We will be here for a long time, think Korea, Germant, etc.

Later,
freepersup ! / heads up ! / eagles up !