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Condors provide relief during Hurricane Irene; 9 landings, multiple locations in 4 days

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Kuzlik
  • VR-64 Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Condors of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 64 were tasked with moving personnel, their belongings, cargo and even pets prior to and following the evacuation of personnel, aircraft and equipment when Hurricane Irene came barreling up the East Coast in late August.

With Irene moving up the East Coast, the crew of two officers and five enlisted flew a squadron C-130T Hercules, under the call sign "Convoy 3947," from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va. Aug. 26.

There, they loaded up 30 "Red Wolves" and 8,750 pounds of cargo from Navy Reserve Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 84 and relocated them to Burlington, Vt., away from the brunt of the storm.

Convoy 3947 then flew on to Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tenn., and remained overnight.

The following morning, as Hurricane Irene continued its trek to the northeast, the C-130T flew from Chattanooga to West Palm Beach, Fla., and delivered its payload of 58 passengers, eight pets in kennels and cargo back to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center support base and downrange tracking station at Andros Island in the Bahamas.

The Condors then headed to NAS Jacksonville, Fla. 450 miles to the north.
On the final day of the mission, before returning to their home station, the crew flew back to Andros Island, this time carrying a dozen Sailors from the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74 along with 4,000 pounds of cargo. HSM-74 was tasked with multiple missions, including operations with the MK 54 anti-submarine warfare torpedo.

Aircraft Commander Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Garrett, Copilot Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Horlacher, Flight Engineer AWF1 David Clark, Flight Engineer (trainee) AWF1 Terry Allegood, Loadmaster AWF1 Wayne Patton, Second Loadmaster AWF1 Joseph Logan and Second Loadmaster AWF2 William Hunt flew 17.4 hours and landed nine times at multiple airports during the four-day mission.

Logan's duties included assisting the loadmaster during cargo onload and offload operations.

"As 2LM and loadmaster trainee, my duties are to ensure the comfort and safety of our passengers' inflight, while boarding and unboarding our aircraft and making sure they enter and exit the flightline in a safe and orderly manner," he said. "A 2LM is also responsible for ensuring the passengers are properly manifested, have valid identification documents and that customs and immigration forms are filled out correctly."

A replacement tire was flown in by sister Reserve Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 62 from NAS Jacksonville, Fla., after the flight engineer brought a damaged tire to the attention of the aircraft commander during the mission. Flight engineers and loadmasters quickly changed the damaged tire in Palm Beach before continuing their mission to Andros Island.

"The most challenging part of this or any mission is always being flexible and ready to adapt as the mission changes," said Logan. "Modifications happen regularly. Unforeseen maintenance issues, even inflight emergencies, are not unheard of, but our sailors at VR-64 are always ready to adapt and demonstrate our Condor "Can Do" spirit."

Logan is an aircraft electrician in his civilian job for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, Ga., where he builds the electrical control and supply system for the C-130J Hercules aircrafts.

"I'm proud to fly in the aircraft built by my company for the Navy -- and even moreso that I'm part of the team building the newer version for future aircrewmen," he said.

"The crew's teamwork, persistence and technical skills enabled us to complete this mission despite the challenges we faced," Aircraft Commander Lt. Cmdr. Garrett said. "It's one example of hundreds that highlight why VR-64 and Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing Sailors are known to be the most responsive air logisticians among the services."

Fleet Logistics Support squadrons have no gaining command in the active component. These Reserve squadrons account for 100 percent of the medium- and heavy-airlift capacity to the Navy. They provide responsive, flexible and rapidly deployable air logistics support required to sustain combat operations from the sea. They provide air logistics support for all Navy commands as well as provide continuous training for mobilization readiness during peacetime.