OUA 1964 – Page 5
	Radar Sites. The remaining hours were logged on special missions in the northern area, such as search and rescue and rotational flights between Dyess and Sondrestrom to position the aircraft and provide maintenance parts and personnel as needed to keep a minimum of two aircraft operationally ready there at all times. During the January to July 1963 period, a total of 687 sorties were flown hauling 1,180 passengers and 6 ½ million pounds of cargo. The actual work done between Sondrestrom and the sites was 642 sorties, haul- ing 6,003,428 pounds of cargo and 820 passengers, requiring 414 actual ski landings and take offs on the Ice Cap. The biggest single mission at Sondre- strom is the annual resupply of petroleum to the sites. This year this mis- sion began on 6 May and lasted until 22 June. During this period alone 424 sorties were flown, hauling 5,604,512 pounds of cargo and 337 passengers, logging 389:10 hours and requiring 210 ski take offs and landings. It was during this period that Captain Donald T. Glenn's crew of the 17th Squadron set a Wing record at Sondrestrom. The crew hauled over 1,000,000 pounds of cargo while flying 90 sorties and accumulating 95 flying hours between 13 May and 7 June. This crew was subsequently decorated with the Air Medal for its performance.
	i. Another first for this squadron was the refueling of two C-130's on the Ice Cap during this same January"June 1962 period. This was necessary because of inclement weather moving into the Sondrestrom area unexpectedly while two aircraft were returning to She base from the sites. The aircraft held as long as possible over the field waiting for a weather change. One aircrew tried an approach but was unable to make visual contact with the runway. At that time, both aircraft flew to the nearest site and landed. Approximately six hours later the third aircraft was able to bring 27,000 pounds of fuel into the site allowing each of the two aircraft to receive 9,000 pounds. This was accomplished by using the defueling manifold and self-manufactured hoses to refuel over the wing of the other two in turn. This operation was accomplished in minimum time and under extremely cold climatic conditions allowing the three aircraft to return to Sondrestrom as soon as possible.
	j. During this six month period, the usual number of special missions were assigned to the 17th crews. ONE SHOT V required logistical air support and aerial delivery of personnel in a joint exercise in the Tennessee area. A total of 116:05 hours were flown in 49 sorties, hauling 155 passengers and 146,752 pounds of cargo, including 44,864 pounds of aerial delivery cargo, during the deployment and employment phase. The redeployment phase required 52:20 hours in 32 sorties, delivering 169 passengers and 151,304 pounds of cargo. Fourteen aircraft and crews were utilized a total of eight days with some crews being required longer, depending on opportune missions picked up after prime requirements had been met. The 17th also participated in a num- ber of classified exercises which included SUNDAY PUNCH, OAK TREE, PALM TREE, SLOT BACK and SKY HOOK. PROJECT SKY HOOK preparations actually got underway in July 1962, and climaxed with the flight test portion in March 1963. With- out undue disclosure, this project involved a radical reconfiguration of the C-130 Hercules to equip it for water recovery and retrieval operations. The crews of the 17th Squadron successfully concluded this project despite no small degree of personal danger including exposure to potential enemy fire.

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