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Show n In by Capt. Max Stitzer 419th Combat Logistics Support Squadron In a summer that found many service members responding to the combat operations in Kosovo and northern Iraq, the 419th Combat Logistics Support Squadron answered a call of their own Oct. 6. The request was for assistance in recovering two downed fighter aircraft. But the treacherous terrain where the wreckage has remained for the past 55 years was not in the Balkans, or the Arabian Peninsula, or even in Asia. The decaying remnants were lying practically in the squadron's backyard. On September 18, 1944, two Curtiss 5 "Shrike" part of a three-shi- p flyover at Kennecott's copper ore smelting facility, flew into severe weather over the Oquirrh Mountains, south of the Great Salt Lake, and never made it out. Four United States Marine Corps crewmembers perished in the wreckage of the two Shrikes that day. The third aircraft narrowly missed impacting the high, rugged terrain just south or where Interstate 80 now lies, and returned to Hill Field to initiate the search and rescue effort. The bodies of the fallen aviators were quickly recovered and the crash site languished in virtual seclusion for over half a century. Tech. Sergeant Steve McNally, 419th CLSS Maintenance Advisor, served as the project leader for the recovery, an effort that spanned more than five months. "This past spring, Kennecott officials were contacted by the restoration team at n AFB, Ohio," said Tech. Sgt. Steve McNally. "The museum is in the process of reconstructing an 5 Shrike and had learned that some key structural were in Black pieces Rock resting Canyonapproximately 50 nautical miles from Hill AFB. After Kennecott safety officials consented to a proposal to retrieve the aircraft from their private property, the museum called in support agencies to in large part to our partnership with the Utah Army National Guard. Without their helicopters, we couldn't have removed many sections of the aircraft from the rocky terrain and loaded them on our vehicles." I $fc$m til MMik tor wmmh i foot-pea- crash-damag- A-2- fighter-bomber- s, Wright-Patterso- A-2- The extraction began when a team of seven CLSS maintenance technicians flew aboard the 'Blackhawk' helicopter and were deposited atop the 8,200 k overlooking the Black Rock Canyon. The team, led by Master Sgt. Larry Hansen, CLSS structural repair technician, hiked the remaining distance down into the canyon to prepare the parts for a ride off the mountain. "We removed the parts through the use of heavy lift slings and cargo nets," said Sergeant Hansen. "There was a second team awaiting at the foot of the mountain to assist in loading the airlifted parts." At the appointed time, Sergeant McNallys handheld radio crackled to life with the message from the mountainside recovery team that the parts were shipped and ready to be hoisted skyward by the Blackhawk. Sergeant McNally signaled the helicopter pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Upton, and his crew, and the helicopter lifted upward and disappeared into the shadows of the canyon above. The next transmission over the radio from Sergeant Hansen signaled that the wing sections were airborne and "making their final, flight." The sense of history and kinship that was conveyed by that poignant remark were a common theme among the Reservists, Guardsmen, and Kennecott civilians responsible for recovering these historic aircraft. "The and safe execution of the begin planning the recovery effort." Enter the 419th CLSS. Frequently sought out for their expertise in similar recovery efforts, the h d squadron's recovery teams are in successfully extricating rare aircraft from difficult locales like Alaska's Aleutian Islands where they have previously recovered a 8 Lightning and a 4 Liberator. Both of these aircraft, as well as nearly a dozen others that represent their handiwork, are on display at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah. Because of their background and proximity to the crash site, it took but a simple phone call, and the squadron leaped into action. Enlisting the services of dozens of 419th CLSS reservists, Tech. Sgt. McNally and his crew visited the crash site numerous times before the actual extraction actually began. "Due to the remote location of the wreckage, our teams had to traverse steep slopes on foot on four occasions to dig the desired components out from under rock slides and vegetation growth," said Sergeant McNally. "It was a flawless recovery thanks well-verse- top-notc- P-3- B-2- well-plann- ed ed entire recovery process are a testament to the force of the 419th professional, combat-read- y CLSS," said Sergeant Hansen. The 5 n Shrike being restored at AFB will be the only one of its kind on display in the world. Restoration will take approximately two years. A-2- Wright-Patterso- Log istics officer contributes to Allied Force by Capt. James R. Wilson i-- 419th FW Public Affairs Office "ore M port sustained operations. It was no easy task." To illustrate the complexity of the than 1,200 reservists situation, consider the logistical to be supported the y long requirement for 36 out based of a Tukish installation that air campaign this summer was previously only equipped to hanagainst Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. The contributions of these dle 18 aircraft. Further complicathighly trained warriors essentially ing matters was the fact that the Air the role of the Reserve in Force had never operated from these F-16- 78-da- in combat operations knows, the strategic and tactical plans are extremely complex," said Major Trammell. "One of the challenges for us was the limited airlift-bu- t that's nothing new." tion of people and equipment from various deployment sites. His involvement ensured the safe return of more than 22,000 people and 44,000 short tons of cargo from 25 locations. "The redeployment was a challenge in of itself due to the limited avail- After securing the beddown issues in Turkey, the Oklahoma native's next stop was the United Kingdom to estabability of airlift," he said. "In many first-ever lish the 5 cases we had to utilize freights and deployed locations. were these By measure, any inspection operation. contingency operations. ships to get the equipment back to While pilots from the 419th Fighter uncharted waters. the U.S." "Getting inspection for the "We were limited in terms of the became a critical issue Wing were eager to join the fight, during Allied Major Trammell's accomplishments, an officer from the logistics group was locations that we could conduct these Force," said Major Trammell. "We while impressive, were not surpristhe one to actually get the call. operations from," said Major Tram- had around 200 tankers that were on ing to those who know him well. mell. "In Turkey, we were only allowed the verge of being grounded because Maj. James Trammell, 419th Logis"Major Trammell is the first to voltics Group executive officer, was noti- to establish two bases. Needless to the inspections had been pushed back unteer for any project, large or small, fied of the tasking for Operation Allied say, the civil engineers and I came up so far. Suffice it to say, Fed Ex made easy or difficult," said Lt Col. David Force while on leave in Oklahoma. with some pretty creative ways to a good living off of us shipping parts Avner, 419th Logistics Group comYet he found himself on German park and launch aircraft." from the states to the United King- mander. "He has a proven track record Tram-mellA 's soil within 96 hours joining a team of dom. logistician by trade, Major here in the 419th as well as at Air and in was It at Brize Norton Royal Air Force Reserve Command headquarbackground experience logistics professionals with a dauntthe convinced Force the Base in of them. task front fighter that Major Trammell's ters." community ing to make him a "There were two cells fighter and leadership "I selected Major Trammell for this point man father, a flight engineer, flew bomber whose charter was to find for numerous operations issues as into during the Vietnam War. The opportunity because of his 'can-dn locations for the influx of well. Specifically, he played a criti- opportunity to visit Brize Norton was attitude. Without a doubt, his experaircraft and support personnel into cal role in coordinating a plan for the an obvious personal highlight of his tise in maintenance support, runway the European theatre," said Major. beddown and subsequent combat oper- deployment. operations, facilities, and the When the bombing campaign halted Trammell. "Working in the fighter ations with senior Turkish Air Force of forces played a large officers. June 20, Major Trammell then focused role in the success of these site cell, I had to survey anything remotely "As who been has involved on the redeployment and reconstitu- could an airfield anyone that resembling sup KC-13- re-defin- ed KC-13- C-1- 5s 41 o' bed-dow- sus-tainabili- IV. "Why " like the direction the Air Force Reserve is I see the headed. Reserve playing a more active part in M real-worl- d taskings now and in the future." did you decide to " re-enlist-ed re-enlis- t?" because I enjoy the camaraderie and professionalism of the Reserve. I enjoy working with my fellow reservists. ( "I look forward to new in the challenges training arena and I'm looking forward to making a difference as me wing assistant chief of education and . I t ' " V: training." - Senior Master Sgt. ; V Cole, Gary Safety Office 419th FW Tech. Robert Sgt. FS 466th Willoughby, Maintenance ty -- -- Master Sgt. Becky Delgado, 419th Training ... office , 4 |