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JB MDL’s VR-52 Taskmasters Support Operation Tomodachi

  • Published
  • By Cmdr. Chip DeWalt
  • VR-52 Executive Officer
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  One of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst's newest mission partners, the Navy Reserve Fixed Wing Logistics Squadron 52 Taskmasters, witnessed the 87th Air Base Wing's steadfast commitment supporting global expeditionary operations and quickly learned the truth behind the 305th Air Mobility Wing's Can Do attitude prevalent throughout the nation's only tri-service joint base.

When a 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook the Japanese coastline, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 52 was forward deployed in Atsugi, Japan and was immediately prepared to provide much-needed aid to the island nation. Despite the devastation, VR-52 and the Navy's Ft. Worth-based Fleet Logistics Support Wing stayed in place and began round-the-clock flight operations transporting food, water, supplies and support equipment across Japan's hard hit Miyagi region.

In early March, VR-52 and VR-64 relocated from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove as part of the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and were in the midst of their move when the natural disaster struck. The Sendai earthquake triggered a tsunami that engulfed Japan's eastern coastline, caused widespread destruction, knocked out power across Japan and led to a dangerous radiation leak. VR-52 and two other Navy squadron's the VR-62 Nomads and the VR-58 Sunseekers from Jacksonville, Fla., were in the thick of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

On March 16, VR-52 launched its first flight from JB MDL in support of OPERATION TOMODACHI carrying supplies and personnel critical to on-going relief efforts.
According to Cmdr. Wade Robertson, VR-52 commanding officer, "We were not yet operational and would not have been able to fulfill this critical mission without the flexibility and operational support offered here at JB MDL."

VR-52's aircrew and maintenance detachment moved Navy patrol and helicopter units directly involved with the search and rescue of survivors in addition to relocating 185 Navy personnel and dependents from the Atsugi-based Carrier Air Group Five to Guam. During this time, the Taskmasters were airborne for 19 out of 26 hours transporting personnel and humanitarian relief supplies.

VR-52 is one of four Navy C-9B squadrons operating four aircraft in support of Joint Operational Support Airlift Center scheduling and prioritizing CONUS missions and the Navy Air Logistics Office scheduling Navy-specific, organic airlift capability spanning the globe. The squadron consists of 32 officers and 229 enlisted personnel both on active-duty and selected-reservists who operate year round and conduct short-notice, worldwide, fleet logistics flight operations. The Taskmasters primary deployment sites include Atsugi, Japan; Manama, Bahrain and Sigonella, Sicily. Last year, the Taskmasters were forward deployed over 250 days and flew more than 3,800 flight hours in support of Department of Defense mission tasking.

"We are glad to be aboard," said Robertson, "We look forward to becoming a positive, contributing member of the JB MDL team."