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HMH-465 Warhorses provide external lift

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 4/25/2004

Story by Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte

AL ASAD, Iraq(April 26, 2004) -- The Iraqi sheep herders heard them coming long before they saw anything appear from behind the blind spot created by the glare of the morning sun.

With hands shielding their eyes from the sun's punishing rays, they looked up and saw a CH-53E Super Stallion externally hauling a Weather Van through the sky like a fairytale stork carrying a baby in a bundle to a new mother-to-be.

The heavy-lift helicopter wasn't carrying a baby, but its cargo might be considered new life to whoever needs it.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is currently hauling "beans, bullets and band-aids" throughout the entire region of Western Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Warhorses and their sister squadron HMH-466 are tasked with bringing supplies to all Marine units within the Western area of operations in Iraq, according to Sgt. Leonardo Velasquez, aerial observer, HMH-465.

"It's our job to carry the stuff that needs to be (externally lifted)," the Pomona, Calif., native claimed. "We support everyone out here. It all comes down to simple support."

The external lifting capabilities of the Super Stallion has made it an asset to current 3rd MAW operations and the Marine Corps, since its introduction in June of 1981, claimed Cpl. Tyrell J. Davis, crew chief, HMH-465.

The 22-year-old helicopter boasts an external lifting capacity of over 70-thousand pounds, which allows it to easily lift and transport M198 Howitzers, Light Armored Vehicles or even another Super Stallion.

The plane is capable of holding up to 55 passengers in the center-lined seats. The all weather flying and aerial refueling capabilities give the helicopter an indefinite range.

One of its most useful features is the dual point hook system, Davis noted.

The helicopter is equipped with the single point system, which allows the crew to lift a smaller sized load that is hooked to the helicopter by the main hook through the "hell hole," the Bloomfield, N.M., native said. The dual point system is more versatile, he added.

"This type of lift is for loads that are questionable (in size), because it is worked from two different points," the 21-year-old explained. "It is a bit more secure."

There has to be certain aircrew members present for the lift, Davis continued.

"Beside the pilots, there will be either a crew chief or qualified aerial observer in the 'hell hole' who calls the status of the load," he described. "You'll also have qualified crew members in the left and right windows making sure the aircraft is clear of any obstacles."

The crewmember looking through the "hell hole" will "call the load" to the pilot, he explained. The member will give the pilot standardized instructions because he is the person onboard the helicopter with the clearest view of the load and the Helicopter Support Team who hooks the load to the helicopter while it hovers above them, he added.

The status updates from the crew, along with other factors, are important to the safety of the whole operation, claimed 1st Lt. Matthew A. Sproat, CH-53E pilot, HMH-465.

"You have all these gauges, as well as a crew chief in the back, feeding me information to allow me to build a better picture of what's going on," the Huntsville, Texas native clarified. "You have to be aware of what's going on in the air around you and what they are doing on the ground." With crews of five or more with any external lift, the helicopter has enough eyes to keep information flowing to the pilots, claimed Velasquez. The squadron has added to that number to increase safety while in Iraq, he added.

"Two 'birds' with two crews always go out at one time," he clarified. "They watch each other's back. It is pretty much a 'battle-buddy' in the air."

It is this sort of team effort between each helicopter, and even the HST, that has allowed the external lifts to go without incident since arriving in theater, Velasquez added.

"We see them with their hooks and they see us with our lifting systems and we all know that point 'A' and 'B' go together," he started. "We put our game faces on and get it done. Most of the time, we don't even know each other, but we know how to get the job done."

The new aerial observer has only taken part in three external lifts since training outside his normal military occupational specialty of administrative clerk, but he said he has come to enjoy his additional duties.

"It's all for a good cause," he stated. "I'm just glad to help. It's all going somewhere to someone who needs it."

Sproat agreed that helping other Marines is a good thing. Doing that while doing something you love, is just icing on the cake, he added.

"We do our best out here to support the Marines, but it's nice to be able to actually do 'heavy lift' missions," he concluded. "We sit around and beat our chest about what our helicopters can do so it's cool to actually come out here and do the missions we train and prepare for."