21st Airlift Squadron flies final mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 21st Airlift Squadron completed its final operational C-5 mission after touching down at Travis March 13. 

The mission, with a crew of 11 on board, left Travis March 5 for an around-the-world flight. The 21st AS will officially make the transition to a C-17 Globemaster III squadron April 3. 

The mission began with a trip to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. The aircraft was loaded with supplies bound for Balad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

The aircrew then proceeded to Hyderabad, India, to pick up two Marine CH-53 helicopters and 26 Marines, which were there in support of President George W. Bush’s trip to Afghanistan and India. 

After downloading the Marines and their equipment in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, the crew loaded two more CH-53s, which were destined for Iraq, and headed home to Travis. 

The crew was not only proud to be on the last mission, but also to be part of an important operational mission as well. 

“It was great that we were able to do a downrange mission, as well as some presidential support,” said Maj. Mike Hanrahan, the mission’s aircraft commander. “It felt good to do some significant mission moving for our final mission.” 

The “cream of the crop” crew was selected by the squadron leadership for their capabilities and time in the squadron. 

“They were hand picked,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Bingham, 21st AS operations officer. “Every aircrew position was filled by the senior-qualified people in the squadron. Almost every member was an evaluator for the squadron as well.” 

Colonel Bingham was honored to make the final landing upon return to Travis. 

“It was nice to be a part of the final mission after running the operations for the squadron,” he said. “It was a great opportunity.” 

A few of the crewmembers had been with the squadron since it first stood up as the 21st AS. 

“I’ve been here a long time,” said Master Sgt. Dale Jackson, one of the mission’s flight engineers, as well as the 60th Air Mobility Wing’s Red Erwin senior NCO outstanding aircrew member of the year. 

“I was grateful to be on the last mission. In all the time I’ve been here, it was my first around-the-world mission. It was a fitting end to my time here,” Sergeant Jackson added. 

The 21st AS has already begun the transfer process of becoming a C-17 squadron. 

Most of its members, as well as the C-5 operational planning, have already transferred to the 22nd AS. 

Some of the squadron members will move on to their next duty stations as well.