Friday, July 9, 1965
SOURDOUGH SENTINEL
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4,500 Flying Hours Recorded AAC Transport Unit
Marks 1st Year
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This month marks the anniversary of the 17th
Troop Carrier Squadron's first year of duty in the Alaskan Air Command. The 17th began it's move as a unit from Dyess
AFB, Texas, shortly after the March 27th earthquake and completed the move in
August, 1964. Although a unit move is a complicated affair,
the 17th's was unique as the unit maintained two crews and aircraft at
Sondrestrom AB, Greenland, throughout the move. The first Alaskan-based C-130
Hercules aircraft and crews picked up the Sondrestrom rotation in July of
1964. The 17th TCS, under the command of Lt. Col. John H.
Statts, carries out it's many varied missions over a wide area extending from
as far west as Shemya AFS at the end of the Aleutian Island chain to the
rugged east coast of Greenland. Two C-130 ski-equipped Hercules and two crews
are attached to
Sondrestrom AB, Greenland, on
a year around rotational basis. |
The Greenland mission calls for the aerial resupply of
two radar sites on the Greenland ice cap. Other missions performed by the 17th include;
search and rescue missions in the Green land area as well as in Alaska,
emergency aero-medical air evacuation
flights in the same areas, providing outsized cargo capability to resupply
various Air Force Stations in Alaska
and maintaining a combat qualified status as a Tactical Troop Carrier
Squadron. During the
past twelve months, the 17th
has flown over 4,500 hours, the equivalent of being airborne 24 hours
a day for more than 187 days. In addition, 9,764 passengers and 16,800,400
pounds of cargo were airlifted in performing the various resupply
missions. Included in these figures
is over 1500 hours of flying time required to airlift 2,403 passengers and
9,649,200 pounds of cargo generated by the Greenland mission. |
In February, 1965, the 17th was awarded the Air Force
Outstanding Unit Award for its outstanding performance of duty in resupplying
the ice cap radar sites. Although the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron is one of
the smallest flying squadrons in the Air Force today, it has provided a
"big lift"' to the Alaskan Air Command's cargo transport capability.
Sourdough Sentinel Friday, July 9, 1965 ---------------------------------- Article courtesy of: Densel K. Acheson Firebird Pilot |