Navy Skytrain Delivers Egyptian Donated Relief Supplies to Islamabad

Courtesy Photo | MANAMA, Bahrain -- A U.S. Navy C-9B Skytrain cargo plane prepares to load three pallets Oct. 27 weighing more than eight thousand pounds and containing blankets and tents donated by the Egyptian government. The C-9B and the crew of VR-56 from of Norfolk, Va., is supporting the Pakistani relief efforts for victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the region. Official U.S. Navy photo by Navy Journalist Carmichael Yepez.  

10.31.2005

Courtesy Story

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By Journalist 1st Class Carmichael Yepez

A U.S. Navy C-9B Skytrain delivered more than 8,000 pounds of blankets and tents to Islamabad, Pakistan, Oct. 27. The Egyptian government donated the supplies to the relief effort for victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the region.

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."

Pakistan earthquake

• Date Taken: 10.31.2005
• Date Posted: 10.31.2005 14:12
• Story ID: 3533