U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, conduct a mass airdrop of paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 10, 2012. The mass airdrop over Alzey, Germany, commemorated 70 years of combat airlift capabilities for the 37th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown)
Tech. Sgt. Johnny Gaunt checks Tech Sgt. Derrick Drennan's parachute harnes, both Jump Masters from the 435th Security Forces Squadron, for safety during a mass airdrop with the 37th Airlift Squadron in Alzey, Germany, February 10, 2012. The mass airdrop commemorated 7o years of combat airlift capabilities for the 37th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kendra Alba)
U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, participate in airfield seizure operations during the 37th Airlift Squadron 70th Anniversary event, Feb. 10, 2012. Paratroopers help line up rucksacks after being dropped from U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Holly Cook)
by Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
2/16/2012 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- "As a modern-day squadron, we stand on the shoulders of giants; of the people who came before us," said 1st Lt. Brett Polage, 37th Airlift Squadron historian. "They have paved the way for us to be successful, so we now show our respect for them."
The 37th Airlift Squadron was activated Feb. 14, 1942 at Patterson Field, Ohio. The 37th AS has participated in multiple operations spanning various wars like operations Market Garden, the D-Day landings in World War II, troop transport in Korea and Operation Homecoming in Vietnam, which was the mission to bring back POWs from Vietnam in 1973 .
The celebration consisted of events such as a mass airdrop, a static display including C-130J Super Hercules, a German C-160, and a British C-47. The mass airdrop was made up of more than 300 jumpers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team from Vicenza, Italy and Ramstein's 435th Contingency Response Group.
The main event of the weekend was the 300 jumper airdrop that happened Feb. 10.
"We celebrated part our 70th anniversary by doing an eight-ship C-130J formation airdrop," said Chief Master Sgt. Lewis Holston Jr., 37th AS Superintendent. "Everything we had planned went just right."
Holston credits Airmen from maintenance as a large part of the reason this mission went well.
"None of this would have happened without our brothers from maintenance working countless hours to get our aircraft ready to fly," said Holston. "It's challenging to get a C-130J prepped to fly, but these Airmen do it without an issue."
All in all, participants in the events held over the weekend did a good job of honoring those who came before them.
"The 70th anniversary weekend was held to honor those who came before us," said Lt. Col. Josh Olson, 37th squadron commander. "We feel as though this weekend was highly successful in doing that."
Comments
2/22/2012 9:19:29 PM ET Dave C airborne troopers have to practice jumping and airlifters have to practice dropping them. No fraud no waste no abuse. Just a photo op for an anniversary.
Ret MSgt, St. Paul MN
2/17/2012 11:04:00 AM ET Congrats on 70 years and for the people that lead the way to get you there. It is an outstanding accomplishment for sure.I am sure your celbrations was amazing but an 8 ship airdrop just for that These are the kinds of things that Air Force leadership needs to understand we just cannot do anymore. I am sure it was chalked up as some sort of training exercise but a clear instance of FWA. If we want to last another 70 years we need to be fiscally responsible.I am sorry and I don't wish to take away form a great accomplishment just how I see things.
