Friday, July 9, 1965                                                                      SOURDOUGH SENTINEL

 

4,500 Flying Hours Recorded

 

AAC Transport Unit Marks 1st Year

 

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

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Article courtesy of:

Densel K. Acheson

Firebird Pilot