Team McChord supports Antarctic MEDEVAC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Stepping into action after short notice, Airmen from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings, alongside Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Kadena Air Base aeromedical evacuation and Critical Care Air Transport Team Airmen, successfully landed during the first ever C-17 Globemaster III mid-winter Antarctic rescue mission and evacuation of an ailing government contractor June 30.

"It took a tremendous amount of effort to prepare the plane at such short notice," said Lt. Col. Robert Wellington, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "It turned out to be a textbook operation. Everything went as planned."

According to Colonel Wellington, after the mission was approved, crews left in less than 16 hours. The patient was admitted to the hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand, within 48 hours after takeoff from McChord Field.

"It was incredible how quickly this mission was executed, especially with the weather conditions," said Colonel Wellington. "Antarctica is darker and colder than any place in the world."

The 62nd and 446th are the only U.S. Air Force C-17 wings uniquely equipped to conduct missions to Antarctica. Operation Deep Freeze is one of the most difficult United States military peacetime missions due to the harsh environment in which it's conducted. Due to the rapid weather changes, relentless wind speeds and inhospitable conditions, ODF is usually only conducted each year from August to March.

"We have just demonstrated that we possess the capability to access Antarctica 365 days per year," said Colonel Wellington. "Over the past four years, we have perfected and refined this capability. The result of that is the ability to expertly generate this type of mission at such short notice."

Because it was a short-notice mission, the crew immediately started preparations for the aircraft, such as obtaining cold-weather oil for the plane.

"Our Airmen did a phenomenal job preparing the plane for this mission in such an accelerated time frame," said Lt. Col. David Pastore, 62nd Maintenance Group deputy commander. "We took the initiative and began preparing a few days in advance. The cold-weather oil took about twelve clocked hours to filter through. By the time the crew needed to go, our Airmen had the plane ready."

In addition to preparing the plane for the intense weather conditions and freezing temperatures, the crew needed to be prepared as well.

"Within 90 minutes of the mission approval, the crew was in our shop and getting fitted for their gear," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Michels, 62nd Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician. "I also went along with the crew to ensure their equipment was working correctly and to help if they came across any issues."

In addition to medically evacuating an ailing government contractor, the crew capitalized on the airplane's additional cargo space by transporting a pallet of fresh fruit and vegetables, known as "freshies" in Antarctic lingo, to the remaining staff at McMurdo Station. Typically, such fresh food deliveries would have to wait until scheduled flights in August.

"They were very appreciative," said Colonel Wellington. "You could tell it was something they hadn't seen in awhile."

After a history-making mission, the crew reports that it wouldn't have been a success had it not been for the support and teamwork they received from Joint Base Lewis-McChord Active Duty and Reserve operations and maintenance units, Air Mobility Command and the Tanker Airlift Control Center, Pacific Air Forces and 13th Air Force and the total force men and women assigned to Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica.

"This mission would not have been possible without the overwhelming amount of volunteerism and professionalism," said Colonel Wellington. "It was a privilege to be part of this mission."