European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday january 17, 1986 the stars and stripes photos by l. Emmet a Coli or. A ch-53 helicopter lifts a water tank trailer off the ground near Wuerzburg German. High above a Cerman tillage Righta wheeled cargo can be seen through the Winch Hatch. Weather gives extra Challenge to copter Sling Load operation by Mike Heron pm us staff writer Wuerzburg Germany nature and uncooperative machinery forced two . Air Force units to work harder this week to meet their initial challenges of cer Tain Sentinel 86. The 601st tac air support so and the 63lsl tac control flight teamed up wednesday for a Sling Load operation to move part of the 631 is s radar equipment to helping in. The radar unit will give air traffic advisories As Well As radar and radio monitoring service to aircraft in the exercise area. Two ch-53 helicopters were scheduled by the Sam Bach a support Squadron to carry loads ranging from certain Sentinel 5,500 pounds to 10,500 pounds. The Squadron Flics seven of the air Force s largest cargo helicopters to handle Supply resupply and Sling Load commitments for air Force units stationed in Germany. Wednesday morning broke cold Windy and Rainy. Winds Gusling to More than 35 Mph meant the helicopter rides would be bumpy. Winds have to be at least 45 Mph to keep the giant choppers on the ground. Even so Takeoff was delayed two hours when one chopper was checked for a mechanical malfunction. We like to use two helicopters on a Sling Load mis Sion " said it. Col. De Gmyrek Squadron commander. But one had to do wednesday. The Heater problem a cd the Bird on the ground for safety reasons Gmyrek said even though it would have been flown in wartime. About 120 Miles away As the chopper Flics about 15 airmen of the 631st stopped their trucks on ton of a Windy Muddy Hill near Emery army Airfield in Wurz Burg an hour and a half before the ch-53 took off from Shinbach a they were getting four loads ready to be airlifted to the unit s certain Sentinel exercise site. As sleet soaked their clothes and stuck to their faces the radar operators and repairmen wrapped flopping cables and toe parts of the loads to solid parts of the equipment. Mobil to Baas were unzipped and Nylon straps with Hooks were liken out and attack cd to the trailers to be airlifted. A Nylon strap called a Donal was used to join All four Corner Ste a a Toady to go in about 30 minutes sgt. David Lewis said. Some of his co workers wore Wal Wea her coat and pants to shed the pin pack log sleet. Wis did t and his iced jacket was soaked. Getting the trailers ready for Sling loading was new to in. Filitto airmen in september the unit received some it room in son Anc went through a couple of prac is under the supervision of instructors from he 60ls wednesday was or real and cold fingers and afro month lapse since training weren t helping. Thyce Insu Clors from the 601st were on hand How Ever. Second it. Todd Tegt Makr left and sgt. Ron Newton secure a Load of equipment before it is picked up. We re examining the loads to make sure they re done right and we brought some extra equipment in Case they need it said staff sgt Greg Young. Master sgt. Charlie Allen tactical Sling Load noncommissioned officer in charge for the 601st, said the novices were doing Fine. Later he had them redo a trailer because straps were done incorrectly. Two loads were ready for lift by the time the helicopter arrived about noon. Winds buffeted the flying Green giant like a Volkswagen being passed by a semitrailer on the autobahn. As the helicopter squatted Over each Load capt. Dave Mcclean and cant. Rich Lyons tried keep the chopper hovering smoothly. But the wind bounced the aircraft up and Down Forward and Back or sideways As tech. Sgt. Dean Larson a flight Engineer Lay on the floor and fished through a Hole with a slender aluminium pole trying to catch the two loads a water tank and a Generator went Well. After each 25-Minutc trip they were left Wilh inc 631 is s main body at halting in. This Sling loading is easy said senior airman Phillip Taylor. But he spoke Loo soon. The next Load a radar Van weighing about 10,500 pounds barely got off the ground before falling. The Short drop Tore off the front wheels of the mobility Carriage and damaged inc Van s Structure. The cause of inc Accident and extent of damage have not been deter mined. Despite the loss the 631st will be Able to continue with its certain Sentinel Mission without delay or re Striction said capt. Richard m. Mcnally Public affairs officer for the 66th electronic combat Wing. Sentinel sketches reformer sergeant re elected to mayor s Post in . Town recruiting slogans say you can Advance yourself while serving your country but getting re elected us mayor of Honda path ., May not be what they had in mind. Ski. 1st class and mayor William Gilmer operations no for a co. Ill la Sig in in the South Carolina National guard Defeated opponent . Hammett 509 to 150 in the mayoral race tuesday. Gilmer in Belgium for reformer exercises said he campaigned for re election in the town of 5,000 before leaving for certain Sentinel 86. Besides his previous term As mayor Gilmer has served 10 years on the town Council is the assist ant chief of the Volunteer fire department and is Active in civic organizations. Gilmer has been in the i Ith for 20 years work ing his Way up from radio operator. Exercise brings lieutenant Back to his German roots Karlsruhe Germany re forger brought 1st i. Roy so arc Back to his roots. The Arkansas army National guardsman with the 176th Public affairs detachment said his Mother had told him stories of How she and his grand Mother half sister and half brother fled East Ger Many. In Germany for the first time for certain senti Nel 86, so arc met his great Uncle whom he had never seen before. It was just like a family get together so arc said. There was instant recognition when i mentioned my Mother s name with lots of hugs hand shakes and German so arc said his Mother met his father while she was working As an for the americans during the Berlin Airlift. They later moved to the states where so arc was born. Canteen helps go string 1 Viz Miles of Telephone wire Ommen Netherlands pfc. Steve Landry used a canteen full of water to help him string a Miles of Telephone wire for reformer 86. I tied the wire to the canteen and tossed it into the Trees he said. I Learned it from my old commo communications Landry assigned to the 196th ordnance in in monchengladbach Germany arrived at the marshalling area in december to set up Telephone communications for re forger troops arriving Early this month. He had to do it All himself and he did in two Days. After All the lines were Strung and 12 phones installed Landry became the switchboard operator for the 543rd area support group marshalling area
