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Fletchers Ice Island – Page 2 |
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The 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf
Air Force Base, Alaska, has provided a continuous lifeline to the island's
personnel and its research projects through both airdrops and air landing. Initial involvement began on 25 July 1968,
when the 17th TAS was requested to airdrop emergency supplies to T-3. The island's
distance from Point Barrow exceeded the range of the Navy's R4-D aircraft and
its ice runway was covered with water. Upon arriving at Point Barrow it was
found that the proposed loads were incompatible with the squadron's C-130
aircraft. To prevent further delay of these emergency supplies, the aircrew
devised a makeshift drop system compatible to both the bundles and the
aircraft. This display of outstanding ingenuity and extraordinary skill under
adverse conditions resulted in the successful airdrop of 7,000 pounds of vitally
needed supplies. Of the 28 bundles dropped not a single malfunction was
noted; these airdrop procedures were subsequently adopted by the squadron. On
16 August and again on 5 September 1968, when supplies on the island reached
a critical state, the 17th TAS was called upon to make two additional
airdrops. Using techniques developed on the first mission the squadron was
able to deliver an additional 13,000 pounds of urgently needed food and fuel
oil. On 14 October 1968, another high priority mission required that a night
landing be made on the Island. With the Island shrouded in the perpetual
darkness of the arctic winter and without approach lights, a C-130 Hercules
landed and delivered 4500 pounds of vital supplies and important Department
of Defense personnel. This first night landing marked the squadron's baptism to
the 3,500 foot ice runway. On 14 December 1968, with the island down to five
drums of fuel oil, its sole source of heat and electrical power, the 17th TAS
once again made an emergency airlift of supplies. With the island still in
darkness, the squadron delivered 25 loads to the perilous ice runway. At the suggestion
of crewmembers, empty 50 gallon drums were aligned alone the aides of the
runway to serve as radar reflectors to aid the navigator in picking out the
runway on his radar scope. This mission was completed on 7 March 1969. With proven capability the squadron was now given complete responsibility
for the continued resupply of the Island. Missions were now scheduled and mission commanders were aisle to
plan, delegate, and utilize squadron resources at a more
efficient level. The first of two scheduled airlifts was initiated from Point
Barrow on 24 April 1969. Despite unusually bad weather conditions the 17th
TAS completed the mission on 8 May 1969, making 55 trips to
the island and delivering 498,100 pounds of essential cargo. From 30 June
1969 to 27 September 1969, with the runway at T-3 unsuitable for landing, the
squadron again reverted to airdrop procedures in order to resupply the
island. During one of these missions the weather held at a ceiling of 300
feet and a visibility of 1/4 mile. A method of aerial delivery under
instrument conditions had to be developed to complete the mission. Utilizing airborne radar approach
procedures, a skill now highly developed in the squadron, the navigator
directed the aircraft along the left side of the runway, using the island's
radio beacon to assist with alignment and timing. These techniques were
similar to those used in the resupply of Khe Sahn, Vietnam, a few months
earlier, but differed significantly in that the aircraft's line-up could be
made without costly ground radar equipment. All drops made during this period
were successful. During the Fall 1969 airlift, a new and improved phase of
the operation began. At the suggestion of the 17th TAS, portable approach and
strobe lights, along with radar reflector flags were flown in and installed
to increase the probabilities of a safe approach and landing. The ice runway
was extended an additional 800 feet. Sixty-two loads of fuel oil and general
cargo, amounting to 741,900 pounds, were delivered as scheduled. During the Spring 1970 airlift the 17th's own
combat control team provided airways communications, runway surveillance and
maintenance, and operation of radar navigation beacons. Defying chill factors
in excess of –60o Fahrenheit, which may cause unexposed kin to freeze in less then
one minute, the 17th TAS delivered 49 loads, a total of 692,300 pounds of
essential cargo to the island. During this lift superior planning and
Initiative by 17th TAS Mission Commanders resulted in
considerable cost savings to the Department of Defense. The island was
located 900 miles north of Point Barrow, Alaska and 610 miles northwest of
Thule Air Base, Greenland. Favorable weather
conditions at Thule allowed that phase of the operation to be completed ahead
of schedule. By taking additional loads of fuel oil from Thule rather than
from Point Barrow as originally requested, a very significant savings in
flying time and man-hours was realized. The
professionalism and dedication of the aircrews, maintenance personnel and
command leadership of the 17th TAS exemplified the very highest traditions of the military services during
this outstanding airlift. This unit's efforts enabled the Navy Arctic
Research Laboratory to continue the vital research underway at Fletcher's Ice
Island. Without the superior effort put forth by this unit, the entire
scientific program would have been jeopardized or seriously curtailed and a
major portion of the personnel of the
ice Island evacuated. Recommend that the 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron,
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, be awarded the Meritorious Unit
Commendation in recognition of outstanding achievement, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty during emergency and
scheduled resupply of Fletcher's Ice Island during the period 25 July 1968 through
17 April 1970. |
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