OPERATION HERRICK

This has been a relatively steady week for the Hercules of 904 EAW with most tasking being fairly routine (if you can describe flying a Hercules aircraft at night on night Vision goggles routine; particularly when you are in an environment that is not entirely benign). In total nearly 2300 passengers and over 190 tonnes of freight were transported. Early in the week 2 members of the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body were carried within theatre as they gathered evidence for their next report into Armed Forces Pay. Also an engine for a UK Support Helicopter was carried to assist in the repair of an unserviceable helicopter. The Helicopter was at an airfield that is not routinely used by the Hercules so a great deal of work was required by the Operations team at 904EAW to ensure that the aircraft could operate safely into, and out of, the airfield. Towards the end of the week, two leaflet drops were undertaken in support of ongoing ground operations; in all approximately 240,000 leaflets were dropped over the two days.

Following a period of operating jointly, this week saw the formal hand over of operational responsibility from the Harriers to the Tornados at 904 EAW. One of the last flights of their deployment included a level of excitement as one of a pair of Harriers operating in support of ground forces suffered an in-flight emergency. It was escorted home by the second Harrier which then returned to support ISAF troops who were by now receiving enemy fire. The Harrier conducted a Show of Force to allow the friendly forces to break contact. Following two more relatively routine sorties the Harriers departed for the UK at the end of a very successful period of 5 years of Operations.

The first purely Tornado mission was also worthy of note; two strafe attacks were conducted against forces who were firing on UK troops. Later that day, the second Tornado pair carried out 2 Shows of Force to deter further aggression against a convoy that had suffered a strike from a roadside bomb. A few days later, a Tornado pair was called to support an Afghan National Army compound that was receiving small arms fire while, the same day, another pair was called to support an Afghan National Border Police checkpoint who were engaging a number of enemy fighters; 4 Shows of Presence were undertaken. In total this week the Tornados have undertaken 3 Shows of Force and 5 Shows of Presence. The Tornado engineering team also had a good first week maintaining sufficient aircraft to meet all tasking plus keeping spares available.

This week the Comms Fleet transported a total of 35 passengers around Theatre. The Tristar of 902 EAW completed 4 sorties this week delivering over 130 tonnes of fuel to Coalition aircraft.

OPERATION TELIC

Tasking levels for the Hercules of 901 EAW are down again. In all only 30 passengers and under 20 tonnes of freight were transported. Unusually, one sortie was undertaken to Afghanistan in support of Operation HERRICK.

Images: Cpl Scott Robertson/Cpl Kryssy Lees, RAF.

Header Image: Dawn Mission C17 Aircraft.

Image 1: 63 RAF Regiment Fire Mission.

Image 2: Stairway to Home.

Image 3: Aircraft Starts.

For more images view this weeks Operational Gallery.