European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday july 18, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 3 wartime refuelling Effort continues at Spain bases by David Tarrant staff writer Torrejon a Spain a they were among the persian Gulf wars busiest service stations. And they re still getting lots of customers. Throughout the Gulf crisis Torrejon and Zaragoza air bases were popular stops for aircraft carrying troops and cargo from the United states to the persian Gulf. Since the wars end the two Spanish bases have been seeing Many of those same planes returning those troops and equipment. A a there a still a lot of stuff coming and going from downrange a said maj. Daniel Swain commander of the Aerial port so for the 625th military Airlift support group at Torrejon a about 15 Miles East of Madrid. With its Large ramp space excellent weather and location Torrejon a began playing a critical role the moment president Bush decided to Send troops to the Middle East in Early August after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Almost overnight traffic through Torrejon increased As much As 1,000 percent. A it was like we were slammed in the face a said sgt. John Hawkins a Load planner with the 625th�?Ts Aerial port so who worked the night shift. A from that moment until March we were  before the invasion Torrejon normally handled about 70 cargo and transport aircraft a month. In August it handled that Many aircraft the first three Days after Bush a decision. In january alone the base received 1,783 aircraft almost 60 a Day. From the Start of operation desert. Shield in Early August to the end of operation desert storm in late february the base handled More than 12,000 aircraft mostly heavy transport military Airlift come aircraft such As c-5 galaxies c-141 Star lifters and Kc-10 tankers. Air base personnel pumped More than 175 million Gallons of fuel into the aircraft through february and handled More than 150,000 tons of cargo. Almost 100,000 troops a 20 percent of the final Force strength of . Forces in the persian Gulf a passed through Torrejon. Zaragoza a which is a fraction of the size of Torrejon handled some 5,000 Mac sorties during desert shield and storm. That meant the base which normally averages about 20 to 25 Mac sorties a month was handling More than 700 flights in that time Frame. Zaragoza doubled its efforts and then doubled them again to keep up with the refuelling needs of aircraft heading to the Gulf. Base personnel pumped an average of 14.5 million Gallons of fuel a month through the end of desert storm 14 times the Normal average for the base. To ensure that enough fuel was available sgt. Maurice Cogle coordinated expanded shipments from Spanish firms. A it got to the Point where we were receiving about 80 trucks a Day a Cogle said. But before the fuel could be put into the aircraft it had to be tested for impurities said airman 1st class Stan Stewart. A it really tested our ability but we have some excellent people a said tech. Sgt. Bobby Powell a supervisor with fuels distribution. Overnight a temporary Home called a hangar 6�?� sprang up for the thousands of service members passing through Torrejon. Located in an aircraft hangar the reception area featured hundreds of cots showers toilets a Library big screen television and a Small food bar. Red Cross representatives handed out travel kits and chaplains dispensed advice. If the hangar seemed crowded with soldiers the base ramp was so jammed with aircraft at times that it resembled a super bowl parking lot. On Jan. 17, the first Day of the War and the bases busiest Day there were 49 air planes on the ground at one Point. A total of 117 planes were handled Overall that Day twice the number normally seen in one month before the Gulf crisis. A going to 1,700 aircraft in one Mont that was a big step for us a said capt. Craig of Neal maintenance super Pum \ staff sgt. Ricardo Santiago directs a c-5 transport plane at Torrejon a. A amps Jim Derheim visor with Torrejon a military Airlift support group. The key to handling the volume was to quickly service the aircraft perform necessary maintenance and get the planes Back in the air. This became More urgent when the High priority a desert express started at the end of october As a Way to rapidly transport spare parts to the Gulf Region. C-141s carrying important cargo had to be serviced including any needed maintenance and on their Way within 90 minutes of touchdown half the time normally allotted for the aircraft. Working 12 hours a Day seven Days a week during the operation was not unusual for maintenance staffers said chief master sgt. Louis Tortorello niacin to Nance superintendent with the military Airlift support group. Quot in my experience we broke every record for turnaround of aircraft a Tortorello said. But the Best acknowledgement of their Success came from the troops and pilots returning from the Gulf said capt. Alan Blumhagen chief of the air terminal operations Center. A they say this is the Best they be seen in terms of support a Blumhagen said a the Best  kills Cadet injures 16 soldiers at fort Benning fort Benning a. Apr a Cadet was killed and 16 other soldiers were injured when lightning struck a tree near their tent during training the army said. Six of the injured remained hospitalized in stable condition tuesday afternoon the army said. The group was in a bivouac area at fort Benning during their first of 14 Days of training in the infantry leaders course when lightning struck a tree near their tent monday evening Post spokeswoman Monica Manganaro said. Killed was Cadet Joel m. Krafsig 22, of Fairfax va., a member of the class of 1992 at the . Military Academy at West Point . He and the injured soldiers were from the 10th Mountain div at fort drum . Navy base in Scotland wins 2 Community relations awards Raf Edzell Scotland a amps the . Naval Security group activity Edzell has won two Community relations awards including a Navy level Honor for putting sailors and marines in frequent Contact with the local scottish Community in 1990. The Navy base took top honors in the Shore based Small installation category of the Navy a rear adm. William s. Thompson awards. It also was recognized by the United kingdom Council of the Navy league for ice hence in it it immunity relations. Both awards Are Given annually. About 820 Active duty military 20 . Civilians and about 840 family members Are at the base according to it. Cmdr. Betsy Maguire a base spokeswoman. The base is about 35 Miles Southwest of Aberdeen. The base donated about $15,700 to local Charity and fund raising efforts during 1990, including about $4,390 for its Marine corps toys for tots program. Other achievements included donations of More than 700 pints of blood to the scottish red Cross efforts by a local organization to Spruce up a local scottish retirement Home and performances by the base theater company for the local Community. Thompson after whom the Navy level award is named was the first designated Public affairs Navy Olti cer to hold Flag rank equivalent to an air Force or army general. He served As the chief of information for the Navy from 1971 to 1975. Nsc3a Edzell had won the award previously in 1985. The . Council of the Navy league is made up primarily of . Civilian members to promote excellence in the . Navy Marine corps and coast guard. Naga Edzell has won the organizations Community relations award six times in the past 14 years. The Navy has been at Raf Edzell for the past 31 years