Military

USAFE News Service 

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- In one of the largest airborne operations since World War II, 1,000 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade dropped out of 15 C-17 Globemaster aircraft over Iraq March 26.

Taking part in the mission were six members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron here.

1st CCS members installed tactical-satellite radio communications systems into seven of the C-17's.  These systems allowed the members to talk directly with the jump commanders and keep them up to date on information that could affect the mission such as weather, enemy threat conditions and the status of the aircraft flying. 

"The first two aircraft are linked through satellite communications with special operations forces on the ground," said Master Sgt. James Robertson, 1st CCS network radio systems superintendent.  "Each plane after that would keep in touch with the plane ahead of it for the latest information."

The crew flew out of Aviano Air Base, Italy.  1st CCS members spent the two hour flight to Iraq in the dark yelling over the noise of the aircraft.

"The windows of the planes were blackened out for safety reasons, we didn't want people on the ground to see the lights from the aircraft," said Senior Airman Michael Sweet, 1st CCS.  "The roar of the plane was so loud that we were yelling messages to each other two or three times."

The one time they were able to see outside the plane was when the paratroopers were jumping.

"The only time we were able to see anything was when the back of the plane opened up and the paratroopers jumped out," said Senior Airman Brian Wacnik, 1 CCS.  "It was pretty incredible to see more than one hundred people exit a plane in less than a minute."

Before flying out, Sweet was given the message that since his plane was the last to fly out, his was the most at risk of enemy fire.

"I wasn't too worried because we were flying over the Kurdish part of Iraq," said Sweet.  "I just focused on the job I had to do."

The jump was highly praised by Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command.

"This is a historic milestone in the evolution of the C-17," said Handy. "The C-17, and more importantly the crews that fly it, have proven their mettle repeatedly while operating in the most demanding environments imaginable throughout the global war against terrorism. Now this workhorse has proven its capabilities in a combat airborne operation."

After the jump, the 1st CCS members would have a seven hour flight back to Ramstein to pack up their equipment, rest and enjoy a job well done.