Big Fish, Little Fish: C-5 Galaxy gets filled to the gills with helicopters

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tracy L. DeMarco
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  It was like a scene on the Discovery Channel; one of those underwater programs where a rather large fish swallows a smaller fish whole, all in the name of survival.

A team of 10 airmen from the 352nd Maintenance Squadron loaded two, recently-retired, MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopters onto a C-5 Galaxy bound for the 'Boneyard.' Officially called the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Tucson, Ariz., the AMARG will eventually store all five Pave Lows assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron.

Master Sergeant Richard Reed, from the 352nd MXS, volunteered to act as superintendent for the trip.

"The 'Paves' were the first airframe I ever worked on, so I wanted to see them to bed," he said. Sergeant Reed and the rest of the maintenance team accompanied the helicopters to Tucson.

It was a crisp morning. The sky was as clear as water and as the sun rose, the colors shifted from cool blues and purples to light pinks and bright oranges. The MH-53s were towed into the shadow of the C-5 where they waited for its jaws to open.

Once the C-5 aircrew, based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., arrived, they immediately prepared the carrier for the load by 'kneeling' the front landing gear and opening the nose. Then it was time for the 352nd to huddle up.

"Be safe," said Master Sgt. Robert Marchewka, 352nd MXS Helicopter Maintenance Unit production superintendent. "Don't hesitate to stop the load if something doesn't look right from each of your positions," he said as he purposely made eye contact with each man in the circle.

Each person strategically placed around the Pave Low was armed with a whistle to alert the winch operator to stop the load at the sound of a single squawk. With literally only inches to spare, accuracy is paramount.

Senior Airman Jason Haight rode on top of the aircraft as it was pulled into the belly of the whale. "Up top, I'm responsible for making sure that the top cowling, tail stabilizer and tops of the engines don't come into contact with any part of the C-5," he said. "Once the aircraft gets about halfway into the C-5, the cowling comes to about a quarter inch from hitting."

The loading process has a flow much like that of an ocean current. Slowly moving the helicopter forward, and then pausing to readjust, and then gradually inching the helicopter further into the depths of the gray interior of the C-5, the load team took great care to ensure no damage was caused to man or machine.

After a few methodical hours of starting and stopping, the winch had pulled the helicopter as far as it could into the aircraft. The rest was up to the load team and C-5 crew as they physically pushed the Pave to its parking spot. Once they secured the aircraft, it was time to go fishing once more. The winch line was cast towards the second Pave Low.

With less distance to travel inside the C-5, the crew loaded the second Pave much quicker. Soon the Paves, 352nd MXS load team, and C-5 and crew were in the air, headed for the AMARG.

"The transition went very smoothly," said Senior Master Sgt. Jon Greene, chief of the helicopter maintenance unit. "Our guys were lauded by the Davis-Monthan aircraft storage personnel for the ease of transfer, the condition of the aircraft, and their records. It was actually quite quick, all things considered."

"Once we got to Arizona it was actually easier to take them off because I think we almost knew what to look for," Airman Haight said. "Being part of the team that sent our first 'retirees' to the 'Boneyard' was pretty special," he smiled.

The 21st SOS MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopters will never again have the chance to fly low-level operations over the ocean. They will never have to be on guard for a predator's net or anticipate an aggressive adversary. Instead, the Pave Lows will survive forever in the memories of those who maintained them and in the minds of the many who will witness their presence in the Arizona desert.

Editor's Note: No federal endorsement of the Discovery Channel is intended or implied.