21st AS flies its final C-5 flight, transitions to C-17 squadron

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tiffany Low
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

As they have done many times before, 10 crewmembers, most from the 21st Airlift Squadron, took their C-5 Galaxy on a training flight March 31. 

It was a normal training day for the crew. Pilots received training in aerial refueling, take-off and landing procedures, while flight engineers and the rest of the crew also accomplished proficiency sorties. 

However, the event itself was significant – it marked the last C-5 flight for the squadron.
When the C-5 taxied up the airfield, fire trucks on both sides sprayed an arc of water over the aircraft. An Airman then drenched the crew members with a fire hose as they exited from the aircraft – a military tradition for a final mission. 

“It’s a great honor [to fly the last local flight]. It’s neat to be able to close a chapter in a squadron’s history,” said Lt. Col. Bruce Sayre, the flight’s aircraft commander. “This squadron is a special place to work. Looking back at the squadron’s history, we’ve done an amazing number of missions, gone to an amazing number of places, and, in my opinion, made the world a better place.” 

The 21st Airlift Squadron has been stationed at Travis flying C-5s since October 1993. 

Among its many operations, it has been involved in numerous humanitarian missions, including assistance to a Russian submarine rescue, and hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief efforts. 

"I am a little sad to see the last C-5 mission, yet excited and proud to be part of it. This is the most senior crew I've ever seen,” said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Larsen, loadmaster. “I’ve flown hundreds of mission sorties, but the difference is I know this will be the last time I am going to fly with this squadron patch on.” 

Senior Master Sgt. Norman Brewer, flight engineer, shares the same sentiment.
“The 21st Airlift Squadron was my first flying unit,” said the sergeant who was part of the unit for all nine years of his flying career. Sergeant Brewer retrained into the career field from maintenance avionics. 

The only consolation in this transition was that his new unit would not require any moving. As with many of the members of the 21st Airlift Squadron, Sergeant Brewer and Sergeant Larsen will continue working on C-5s, this time as members of the 22nd AS, also assigned to Travis. 

“It’s not as bad as leaving the base; at least I’ll be able to see the same patch from across the street,” Sergeant Brewer jokingly said. 

As for the 21st AS, it officially transitioned from a C-5 squadron to a C-17 squadron in a ceremony here Monday. The day also marked the squadron’s 64th anniversary. 

“It is an exciting day here at Travis as we take a very significant step preparing for the arrival of our first C-17 in just a few months. The success of the 21st AS over the past 13 years is a testament to the Airmen who have been doing the mission day in and day out,” said Col. Lyn Sherlock, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, during the ceremony. 

While the mission may have changed for the 21st AS, the squadron’s name and commander remains the same. 

Lt. Col. David Pollmiller, 21st AS commander, is currently going through C-17 re-qualification training at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. He flew the C-17 from 1996 to 2001 at Charleston AFB, S.C., and McChord AFB, Wash., and has approximately 1,500 hours in the cockpit. 

“I have been very proud of the way that the 21st AS accomplished the C-5 airlift mission, but I am very excited about standing up C-17 operations at Travis,” said Colonel Pollmiller. “The C-17 has different capabilities than the C-5, such as short field and unprepared runway operations. I am very motivated to take advantage of those capabilities in support of our nation's airlift requirements.” 

After completing the 10-week course, Colonel Pollmiller will be a C-17 aircraft commander. 

“Whether we are flying the C-5 or the C-17, the 21st Airlift Squadron has a tremendous heritage of excellence and is proud to be a part of the Travis Team and flying the airlift mission,” said Colonel Pollmiller. 

The base is scheduled to receive its first C-17 aircraft in July. The plane will be dedicated to the local community and called the “Spirit of Solano.”