Navy Skytrain Delivers Egyptian Donated Relief Supplies to Islamabad
Story Number: NNS051101-14
Release Date: 11/1/2005 4:01:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class Carmichael Yepez, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy C-9B Skytrain delivered more than 8,000 pounds of blankets and tents donated by the Egyptian government to to aid in earthquake relief efforts to Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct. 27.
The C-9B cargo plane, of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 56 from Norfolk, Va., recently deployed to the region to support the multinational aid and assistance effort run by the Pakistani Government.
Although the most junior member of the five-man crew on this mission of mercy, Airman James Trader, an aviation structural mechanic from Baltimore, Md., already knows what it means to help those in need. This marks the third time he has participated in providing relief to disaster victims in his two-year tenure in the Navy.
“It feels great knowing we are able to help many people out,” said Trader. “We also helped out during the tsunami in Thailand, and most recently we transported passengers affected by Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to Houston, Texas.”
Earlier in the day, loadmaster Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Ed Vadnas from Lancaster, Calif., helped load the huge pallets of relief supplies onto the plane.
“Today we are taking three pallets containing blankets and tents donated by the Egyptian government,” said Vadnas. “But we are also taking a pallet of supplies and an all terrain vehicle (ATV) for the Seabees.”
The crew of the C-9B may be small, but they feel that the impact of their mission is enormous. During Hurricane Katrina relief efforts they flew 66 sorties and amassed more than 110 hours of flight time. In the course of those missions, they transported 1,500 passengers and 120,000 pounds of cargo.
“We don't know how many missions we'll be doing here,” said Trader. “But we are ready to fly wherever they may need us to go. I think it is good that we are doing stuff like this. I feel proud to be part of this crew.”
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.
