HERRICK

The movement of troops around Theatre has again been the focus for the Hercules of 904 EAW; the whole team has been working hard, both by night and day, juggling priorities to meet both national and ISAF tasking. During the week a number of medical evacuation flights were undertaken; of the casualties moved, a number were unfortunately classed as critical. Again this week 2 service personnel were urgently carried out of Theatre to a civilian airport to allow them onward travel home on compassionate reasons. On one sortie during the week, a crew suffered an engine problem on the runway that caused them to abort their take off run. A dark night and short runway increased the excitement. The crew calmly rectified the problem, took off normally and completed their task. In all, almost 2350 passengers and 200 tonnes of freight were moved this week.

For the Tornados of 904 EAW, this week has seen the focus shift back to Close Air Support of ground forces directly engaged in operations. However, such is the quality and value to ground forces of their reconnaissance product, this week has also seen the Tornado tasked with tactical reconnaissance on 5 consecutive days. The week started with a Show of Force in support of a UK patrol. Later that day a pair of Tornados were tasked to provide overwatch of a friendly convoy. When the convoy reached its destination the Tornados were retasked to support a much larger UK resupply convoy that had left Camp Bastion and was heading to a nearby Forward Operating Base. The following day, a pair of Tornados were called to provide assistance to a friendly patrol that had suffered a roadside bomb strike and was receiving small arms fire. On arrival, the lead Tornado immediately carried out a Show of Presence to alert the enemy forces to their presence. As the ground patrol had taken casualties, the Tornados carried out a further 3 Shows of Presence to deter enemy interference and to reassure the friendly troops. As the medical evacuation helicopter arrived, the Tornados were relieved by an American aircraft and an attack helicopter and returned to base. Later in the week, a Tornado provided overwatch for a patrol from a Coalition partner nation that had taken casualties in an RPG attack. The Tornado remained on station until the arrival of the medical evacuation helicopter. Later, another Tornado conducted a Show of Force in support of an RAF Regiment patrol. The end of the week saw some excitement for one Tornado crew. They suffered an in-flight emergency shortly after take off. They returned to base, left the aircraft in the capable hands of the engineering team and took off in the spare aircraft to complete their mission. Later that day a further Tornado was called to support a joint UK and Afghan patrol that was taking fire. A Show of Force was carried out to deter further enemy action.

The VC10 of 902 EAW flew 5 times this week and transferred almost 130 tonnes of fuel to Coalition aircraft. On 3 of the sorties, the aircraft provided fuel to US aircraft who were actively engaged supporting ground troops who were receiving fire from enemy forces.

The Comms Fleet carried 31 passengers.

Op TELIC

The Hercules of 901 EAW flew 6 times this week and transported almost 100 passengers and 35 tonnes of freight.

Editor: Sqn Ldr Iain Houghton 

Photographer: Cpl Kryssy Lees, RAF

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2009.