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C-5s deliver troops, helicopters for earthquake relief

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rusty Barfield
  • Air Force Print News
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  U.S. Pacific Command Airmen loaded three Air Force Reserve Command C-5 Galaxies with helicopters, support equipment and Soldiers bound to help earthquake victims in Pakistan Oct. 16.

The Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters are the first U.S. Pacific Command assets to deploy to earthquake-shattered Pakistan. A C-5 can carry two CH-47 helicopters. 

Deploying were 60 soldiers and their helicopters from Company B, 214th Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. 

The C-5s are from the Reserve’s 433rd Airlift Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas, and the 439th AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. 

“I’m glad to be here making, and being a part of, history – especially at this time when we have all these disasters,” said Chief Warrant Officer Edgar Palafox, the battalion movement officer. “I’m glad we can actually help some people in a short period of time.” 

After a short flight here from Wheeler, Army maintainers prepared the helicopters for transport. It took about six hours to prepare a Chinook for loading onto the C-5. The Soldiers had to remove the front and rear rotors, as well as the entire top sections, before two helicopters will fit inside the transport. 

“It takes a lot of work (to break the helicopters down),” said Army Staff Sgt. Michael Owens, CH-47 technical inspector. 

The C-5 crewmembers said the mission was on a fast track. 

“Rush. It’s a high priority mission,” said Senior Airman Mike Kaminski, a C-5 crew chief with the 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “We don’t want to delay. We want to get out of here on time – get in here, get our stuff loaded and get out as soon as possible so we can help out the people in need.” (AFRC News Service)