Op HERRICK

Tasking for the Hercules of 904 EAW has been about average this week although a number of short notice tasks and some aircraft being unserviceable exercised the planning staff. The Hercules team needed to demonstrate all it’s ingenuity at the start of the week when an aircraft became unserviceable away from base. With the component required to repair the aircraft temporarily unavailable in Theatre, the engineers removed the component from another aircraft.

A third aircraft delivered to component to the unserviceable aircraft to allow it to return to base. The following day, the main effort was the movement of passengers; over 400 were moved including over 100 from a partner coalition nation. Mid week, an individual service person needed to return to the UK for urgent compassionate reasons. The Hercules transported them out of Theatre to meet up with a flight back to the UK. Two days later a second compassionate case arose and another aircraft made the same journey. Also mid-week an aircraft became unserviceable. This led to the ops team rescheduling the flying programme which kept the movements team busy re-rolling aircraft from freight fit to passenger fit and back again; a further aircraft travelled out of theatre to pick up freight. The week ended with a very busy day for the engineers and a rapidly changing flying programme for the crews; a number of aircraft technical problems arose and 2 separate flights were generated to transport more service personnel leaving Theatre on urgent companionate reasons. Over the week a number of injured servicemen were transported. In total, almost 170 tonnes of freight and nearly 2570 passengers were transported.

For the Tornados of 904 EAW, this week was dominated by an accident involving one of their aircraft. An engine problem on take off caused the pilot to abort his take off run. The aircraft ran off the end of the runway and the crew ejected safely. Despite this, support to Operation Panthers Claw has continued throughout the week. The week started with a successful tactical reconnaissance sortie. The same day a Tornado was tasked to search an area previously cleared by Operation Panthers Claw. No enemy forces were seen in the area and the local population were busy going about their daily business; children were even out flying kites. The following day a Tornado conducted a Show of Force while another carried out overwatch for a foot patrol as it was leaving its base. Later, another Tornado provided support to a foot patrol that had lost communications with its base. Mid week, a Tornado was tasked with conducting 3 Shows of Presence. It was then retasked to support a stationary convoy; the aircraft carried out a further Show of Presence to deter a potential enemy ambush. The week ended as it started with a successful Tactical Reconnaissance sortie. Later that day, a pair of Tornados were tasked to support friendly forces that were taking small arms fire. On arrival, the Tornados were tasked to carry out a Show of Force to aid the friendly forces’ withdrawal to their base. Unfortunately, the Show of Force did little to deter the enemy and a weapon was released allowing the friendly forces to break contact.

The Tristar of 902 EAW is currently in the UK for maintenance while the Comms Fleet carried 28 passengers.

Op TELIC

Tasking for the Hercules of 901 EAW remains suppressed; in total about 90 tonnes of freight and over 340 passengers were transported. One aircraft tested the patience of the engineering team with a recurring engine problem although all tasking was achieved.

Photographs: Cpl Kryssy Lees, RAF