Largest air load ever dropped in eastern Afghanistan

Combined Joint Task Force 1 - Afghanistan
Story and photos by Sgt. Andrea Merritt
Nov. 23., 2011.
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PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — With the inhospitable, mountainous terrain surrounding Forward Operating Base Curry making vehicle maneuver nearly impossible, units have relied heavily on air assets to receive supplies.

U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 9th Engineer Battalion usually recover water, food, fuel and other classes of supplies from the drop zone, but this delivery, Nov. 23, was unlike all others and was the first of its kind in the history of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Today we air dropped a 16-foot platform carrying an all-terrain forklift. It is one of six platforms ever dropped in theater,” said Eagle, Colo. native, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Chelsea Craig, the 11th Quartermaster Detachment commander. “It is the first forklift dropped in theater and weighing in excess of 15,000 pounds, it is the heaviest platform ever dropped.”

As the C-130 Hercules aircraft flew overhead, the back hatch opened and the crew pushed the platform carrying the historic load from the plane.

 Within seconds, three parachutes opened and the platform descended onto the drop zone. Upon landing, the platform made a loud cracking noise as it came in contact with the earth’s surface.

“Uh oh. That didn’t sound good,” said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Laporte, the 172nd Infantry Brigade support operations officer, as he watched from a tower overlooking the drop zone.

Once on the ground, engineer soldiers ran over and inspected the new piece of equipment. Although the packing material encasing the equipment broke during landing, the forklift remained intact.

Continue to read more and hi-res photos at APACHECLIPS.COM

Posted in: Afghanistan