OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) -- A C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing was the first U.S. Air Force aircraft to land at an Iraqi airfield in the southern part of the country after it was secured by coalition forces March 27.
The mission, flown by wing commander Col Rich Johnston and his crew, was the first of many that flew the Army's 82nd Airborne Division forward to secure the airfield and surrounding area.

"I couldn't be prouder of the entire operation," Johnston said. "There were many moving parts to this successful operation, such as tactics planners, aircrews, aircraft maintainers, cargo and passenger handling personnel, and airborne assets providing air support for our flight into and out of Iraq, to name just a few."

On the way to Iraq, the flight brought maintainers and parts into Kuwait. The maintainers went on to Kuwait City so they can fix any C-130s that need help en route to Iraq. Next, the flight picked up cargo and passengers destined for the airfield in Iraq.

"We delivered the initial Tanker Airlift Control Element team," said Lt. Col. Cam Torrens, 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "We took in their command and control van, personnel and security forces members."

For the crew, this mission was unique in a few different ways. "It was the blackest night ever. There was zero illumination from the moon and none of us had ever trained in that type of darkness," Torrens said. "When we approached the airfield, we could see the runway lights with (night-vision goggles). But when we got on the taxiway it was dark again, and it was hard to tell what was out there."

Johnston said once the aircraft stopped, the TALCE cargo was unloaded within minutes. The C-130 was then loaded with four survivors from a helicopter crash and pieces of the helicopter.

"The patients were going to Kuwait and then out to a hospital ship to be checked out for sore backs and bruises, but they said they were ready to get back into the fight after a few days of rest," Johnston said.

Moving the patients reminded Torrens of his role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We're in the support business," he said. "It's not that we're not important, but we're not the ones on the front line."

Torrens appreciates what the troops on the ground are doing.

"Our plane doesn't shoot back," he said, "so U.S. forces must have control on the ground. If we're able to land that means the ground troops have gotten the job done."

Torrens said he understands how important his role is and is anxiously awaiting the call to offer support again.

"We're hoping for a call in about another week when we're 100 miles closer to Baghdad," he said.

"(In March) we flew hundreds of sorties carrying thousands of passengers and millions of pounds of cargo. ... Now that's impressive," Johnston said. "This isn't an exercise or training, it's war, and this wing again proved that we're ready for the challenges of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Aircrew members on the mission are deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Little Rock AFB, Ark., and the Minnesota Air National Guard.