The power of air power

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Robert Henson
  • 48th Security Forces Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  As the four year anniversary to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom draws near, I thought it appropriate to share my combat experience and highlight the awesome contributions of air power. March 26, 2003, I was among 1,000 U.S. military paratroopers who conducted a combat parachute airfield assault into Bashur Airfield, Iraq with the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade. Our overall mission was to open up the northern front in Iraq at the beginning of the war and force Saddam Hussein to commit forces to the area, making it safer for swift progress to Baghdad. Among the 1,000 paratroopers, only 20 were Airmen, and our specific mission was simple: open the airfield and be prepared to receive the first plane within 24 hours. The operation itself was strategically important, but most notably, was the contribution air power made to ensure mission success.

The Air Force unit I belonged to was the 820th Contingency Response Group from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The 20 Airmen selected for the combat jump included a pilot, transporter, communicator, intelligence officer, engineer, fuels specialist, medic and security forces. We were all well trained, extremely physically fit and most of us had rehearsed this very same mission with different Army units in years past.

The airfield assault that night was the biggest drop of paratroopers since the Panama invasion in 1989. There were fifteen C-17 aircraft that made the journey from Aviano Air Base, Italy to Iraq that infamous night. Five aircraft would first drop vital combat equipment, vehicles and supplies on the airfield, and then ten aircraft would follow in staggered formation to drop 100 paratroopers each.

The jump into Iraq brought some challenges. First, the aircrews had to make sure each aircraft was performing at peak performance. Arriving in Italy about a week before the scheduled jump, mechanics worked feverishly day and night to ensure there were no mechanical problems or shortfalls. Their commitment and professionalism exuded Air Force pride in a sea of Army green, and they never wavered in completing their tasks. The planes flew courageously and perfectly that storied night because of their commitment.

The next challenge was the flight plan. In support of the flight, flight crews had to schedule air refueling, fighter escort and AWACS support...a total of about 40 other aircraft to support this important and dangerous mission. In the end, our flight time was reduced to about four and a half hours because international support allowed us to enter Iraq though a more efficient route and shorten our lengthy flight.

The last challenge was the drop zone conditions at Bashur Airfield. The weather was extremely poor before the planes took off, but the aircraft and Army commanders made the decision to go. In flight, the weather continued to worsen; however, calling the mission off wasn't an option. To make matters worse, the aircraft had to take an intense and steep dive from 30,000 ft. in order to get to the airfield nestled in a valley. There was only about 50 seconds of "green light" to get all the paratroopers out the doors and successfully pull the aircraft up without slamming into a massive mountain. Yet, the flight crews were up to the challenge and completed the monstrous task, displaying the utmost professionalism and airmanship.

As the planes approached the drop zone, everyone in the aircraft was nervous yet anxious. The planes were completely blacked out except for a dimmed red light, giving me just enough vision to see silhouettes all around me. The moment the green light came on everyone started yelling and screaming in excitement to get out the door. As I entered the sky and my parachute opened, I noticed the completely black night with no stars or moon. It was so dark I couldn't even see my hands holding the parachute risers right next to my face. The ground was nowhere to be seen, and I had no idea of my altitude. I couldn't see any other jumpers, and it was absolutely silent except for the aircraft now speeding up to exit the hostile area. I lowered my combat equipment, and assumed a good parachute landing fall. Slamming into the ground without warning was not the most comfortable feeling, but it was my first combat jump and the exhilaration was overwhelming. I put my weapon into action and set off to the rally point to meet my fellow Air Force members and start our task to get the airfield operational.

Our Air Force team was the first group to assemble that night as we called into the Army's tactical operations center. We had about five hours of darkness before we could start assessing the airfield. We sent Airmen to established runway crossing points to ensure the runway would remain clear during the night. Paratroopers were everywhere, looking for their units in complete darkness. "Bravo Company, is that you?" whispered a group of Army soldiers looking for their people. We directed them to their lost company, fielding many similar calls through the night.

As the sun rose and we saw the land around us, we knew it was time to get busy. The airfield was completely bare. There wasn't a single building, electricity or running water. It was an old runway with one small aircraft parking area. Our first task was to make sure the runway was operational. After an intensive check, we determined the runway was weathered but could handle a loaded C-17 landing. The next problem was the width of the small taxiways. They were just big enough for a C-17 but we had to dig up surrounding dirt mounds to make sure the planes' wings wouldn't scrape the ground. Navigational aids were placed correctly and the marshal area marked so the C-17 knew where to go once it taxied off the runway. This wasn't easy, since flight operations would be at night in completely blacked-out conditions. Finally, communications were checked to make sure we had connectivity with the inbound aircraft. Everyone worked quickly to maximize the daylight and ensure all was in order before the first plane arrived. Late that night, everyone anxiously looked through their night vision devices for the first aircraft. Again, it was so dark you couldn't see anything with a naked eye. In the distance, we finally saw the first plane, and our adrenaline was high. The screech of tires and high-pitched noise of reverse thrusters were the signs the first C-17 successfully landed and unloaded needed supplies to assist us with completing our mission.

In the end, it was air power that brought the fight to the Iraqis at the start of the war. As the remainder of our Airmen landed in subsequent flights into Bashur, we unloaded more than 350 aircraft that carried 26.5 million pounds of cargo and more than 4,200 combat troops--all in 27 days. Also, our 15 minute average to download a C- 17 aircraft broke the unofficial Air Force average of 60 to 90 minutes, and it was all done in pitch black conditions. We searched more than 550 third country national vehicles, constructed over 2,000 meters of counter-mobility barriers and eight hardened observation points, and reported 141 incidents ranging from weapons firing to enemy reconnaissance. The following year, the National Aeronautic Association awarded the lead C-17 aircraft, call sign Vijay 10, the 2003 Clarence Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year for gallantry, intrepidity, unusual initiative and resourcefulness.

Air power isn't just about airplanes, its about our Air Force people. That single airdrop consisted of more than 55 aircraft, but more importantly, consisted of hundreds of Airmen and twenty Air Force paratroopers who demonstrated the ability of air power. That night, jumping into war, will probably be the proudest day of my military life, simply because I was an Airman demonstrating the unlimited potential of air power.