CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
While many could only watch and wait, two Charleston alert aircrews were poised for action as flashes of damage scrolled across televisions and computer screens after a recent disaster in American Samoa.
A tsunami caused by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake Sept. 29 devastated the South Pacific U.S. territory located approximately halfway between Hawaii and Australia. More than 150 deaths have been reported, along with hundreds of injuries and thousands left homeless.
At Charleston AFB, thousands of miles from the disaster, Capt. Patrick Woodall, a pilot with the 16th Airlift Squadron, along with the members of two aircrews were ready to help "on-call" and were placed in alert status.
The aircraft commander and his four crew members joined with others throughout the Air Force in aiding the tsunami victims with humanitarian airlift when they were notified of a mission to transport two Federal Emergency Management Agency vehicles to Hawaii Oct. 2.
Captain Woodall said his crew was chosen for the mission due to increased fuel capacity in the version of aircraft he was assigned to command.
The flight traveled from Charleston AFB to Dobbins AFB, Ga., where the vehicles were loaded, and then they flew on to Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
"It was pretty coordinated. There are a lot of wheels turning to get things going," said Captain Woodall. "They're coordinating a lot of assets and a lot of manpower and then trying to get that lined up with airfield closures and when the airfields are open. So, they are trying to plan that whole mission."
Captain Woodall said it is not unusual for mission plans to be changed on short notice.
After successfully transporting the FEMA vehicles to Hawaii, the Charleston AFB aircrew learned an aircraft assigned to another base encountered a mechanical problem which could not be resolved. Captain Woodall's crew and aircraft was assigned in its place.
The aircrew was tasked to transport 70,000 pounds of electrical generators to Pago Pago, American Samoa, to aid in the loss of electrical power throughout the territory and then airlift several more FEMA vehicles and trailers out of the U.S. territory to Hawaii.
The change in plans placed the switch-hitter aircrew from Charleston AFB at the right place at the right time to hit a grand slam for global reach during their first-ever humanitarian airlift mission.
Ten hours after takeoff, the aircraft arrived at the dimly lit airfield of Pago Pago the night of Oct. 3. During approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes on the ground, the crew offloaded 70,000 pounds of electrical equipment, refueled their aircraft and loaded four FEMA trucks and trailers onto the aircraft.
"We just thought we were going to take those trucks and then come straight home. I guess another airplane was going actually take the equipment down to Pago Pago, but we got to do it, which is fine with us because we love to fly," said Captain Woodall. "I guess I just like to do those kinds of missions where you can see the immediate impact of what you're doing. Everybody's happy to see you, so that's good."