OPERATION HERRICK

The early part of this week saw very little tasking for the Hercules of 904 EAW due to a period of routine maintenance on the runway although one aircraft transported a number of injured personnel including one critical casualty. Once runway work was complete their tasking picked up again. One aircraft moved several pallets of freight for a Coalition partner nation while another moved a number of Afghan National Army personnel. Blowing dust caused the crews difficulty landing at an airfield one night mid week. Also mid week, an aircraft was generated at short notice to transport a serviceman, leaving Theatre for urgent compassionate reasons, to an airfield outside Theatre in order for him to meet a civilian flight home. The following day, another aircraft travelled outside of Theatre to transport freight. The week finished with another busy night; in all, almost 2350 passengers and over 170 tonnes of freight were transported this week.

Early in the week Tornados of 904EAW provided support to a convoy move while another pair were tasked to support a patrol of Afghan National Army who were receiving enemy fire. With the Afghans receiving effective fire, a Tornado conducted a strafe attack against enemy forces in a treeline. A Show of Force was then undertaken to discourage further interference as the Afghan forces broke contact. Midweek proved exceptionally busy as, one day, the Tornados were called to undertake almost twice as many sorties as normal. One aircraft provided overwatch for a Coalition armed helicopter that was supporting friendly forces and later supported a friendly patrol that had lost communication with its base. Towards the end of the week, a pair of Tornados were tasked to provide support to 2 friendly patrols who were providing assistance to the local population ahead of the Afghan elections.

With the usual Tristar of 902 EAW in the UK for engineering work, a VC10 tanker aircraft has arrived in Theatre to undertake the tasking. The aircraft has flown 5 times and delivered over 100 tonnes of fuel to Tornado GR4 and other coalition aircraft.

The Comms Fleet transported a total of 14 passengers this week.

OPERATION TELIC

The significant reduction in tasking following the completion last week of the withdrawal from Iraq has allowed a reduction in aircraft numbers for the Hercules of 901 EAW. In all 50 tonnes of freight and 130 passengers were moved. Although all tasking was met, the engineering team have had to cope with a number of annoying engine problems; including an engine change. Only the exceptional engineering experience of a technician prevented an engine change on a second aircraft. The crew had carried out a precautionary engine shut down leaving the aircraft unserviceable away from base. While the normal response to this fault would have been a lengthy engine change, the technician on the crew was able to use his extensive knowledge of the aircraft system to diagnose the fault and identify a failed component which he then replaced. He had the aircraft serviceable in time for the crew to complete their task.

Editor: Sqn Ldr Iain Houghton

Photographer: SAC ELLIE INSLEY. RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2009.