301st Airlift Squadron, 99th Squadron become Sister Squadrons

  • Published
  • By by Master Sgt. Wendy Weidenhamer and Mr. Ronald Lake
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The vision was to establish camaraderie, a bond with it's sister squadron--and the moment was now.
At 0645 hours on June 2, in a crowded aircrew briefing room at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the 301st Airlift Squadron began a five-day journey to the United Kingdom. A journey to turn a vision into reality when members from the squadron visited its new sister squadron, the 99th Squadron at Royal Air Force Brize Norton, and at the same time explore their own history. A history that began more than 60 years ago during Word War II. 
The idea for a sister squadron initially occurred to Lt. Col. Dave Pavey, who at the time was the 301st's operations officer, while he was attending C-17 pilot training at Altus AFB, Okla., with members of the 99th Squadron. Now the 446th Operations Group commander at McChord AFB, Wash., Colonel Pavey's idea was now a reality and only hours away from "first contact."
Planning for the trip was a four-month "labor of love" and a lot of work for Lt. Col. Dave Degavre, the 301st's Flight Commander. There were military units and civilian agencies to coordinate with, transportation and lodging to arrange, along with a multitude of other details necessary to make a trip like this successful. So, at the end of the day, a bunch of tired crew was grateful that each day melted seamlessly into the next without any major problems with the biggest frustration being the decision about what to eat for dinner.
Also joining the team was Col. Lloyd C. Neblett (USAF, Ret.) who was one of the early commanders of the unit that preceded today's 301st, the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron. Colonel Neblett was, in a way, a charter member of an American and British sister squadron relationship when his unit was based at Merryfield, England, during World War II. Then a captain, Neblett was a 25-year-old C-47 pilot who flew over Normandy to drop paratroopers behind German lines in advance of the D-Day landings by the combined allied forces of America, England, Canada on June 6, 1944. So a sister squadron relationship between the 99 Squadron and the 301st AS was more like rekindling an old friendship.
This historic journey began with a very long flight to England. From the beginning a real "sister-squadron" spirit was present with the team made up of members from different squadrons, each with a specific mission, yet all seemed to see no boundaries when it came to getting the job done. No matter whose job it was, everyone pitched in to make the load lighter.
The crew utilized the extended flight time to incorporate valuable training time in the Globemaster III. Since the C-17 is new to the 301st, many of its members are still transitioning from the C-5 to the newer, sophisticated aircraft. During the flight, Capt. Troy Ogle, a 301st C-17 pilot, was being evaluated in performing the duties of an aircraft commander. A six-member 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron team also practiced the art and meticulous task of assembling, using and disassembling patient litters.
The long flight was over in the early morning of what was to be a very long day. The C-17 landed and taxied onto its spot at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK. It was time to practice flexibility, something in which flight crews are well versed. Everyone made the transformation into service dress, changing in a flash like Superman in a phone booth, only it was in the local command post's restrooms. Then they were off for a full day of ceremonies celebrating their squadron's history with their Royal Air Force counterpart, Flight Lieutenant Matthew Doncaster, a C-17 pilot for the 99th Squadron, as their escort and guide, also in his service dress uniform.
The heritage crew drove to the Cambridge American Cemetery at Cambridge to pay tribute to two 301st TCS aircrew who were killed in a C-47 crash in July 1944 while being transported to hospital in Scotland. The crash occurred about three miles from the coastal village of Portpatrick. While Colonel Neblett placed flowers on the graves of his former comrades, taps played clearly in the morning English sun.
As the day wound down, the team, who had changed back into flight suits, boarded their aircraft for a flight to RAF Brize Norton, the home base of their sister squadron.
At Brize Norton, it was a sunny day and a cool English wind gently ruffled the flags nearby as the U.S. Air Force C-17 taxied into place between a C-17 from the British 99th Squadron and a C-17 from the Australian 36 Squadron--a perfect fit.
After posing for group photographs of the three allied country's respective aircrews, it was off to a ceremony and presentation of gifts the 301st had brought for their sister squadron. The commander of the 99th Squadron, Wing Commander John Gladston also presented plaques to the 301st commander, Lt. Col. Stephen Rickert, and No. 36 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force commander, Wing Commander Linda Corbould.
"We are very, very pleased and honored to host the 301st, who, like the 99th Squadron, has an extremely distinguished history, particularly during World War II," Wing Commander Gladston said.
"It makes complete sense that the 99th Squadron and the 301st should become sister squadrons. The body of a squadron is defined by its history and that history distinguishes what we actually stand for and what we're fighting for currently. We're both supporting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, an extremely important cause.
"All those things together makes this an extremely worthwhile and valuable visit," he concluded.
"If you look back in history, no nation has fought wars alone. It was the allies coming together to fight the (World War II) together that equaled success," Colonel Rickert said.
"It was quite an achievement getting us all together," Wing Commander Gladston said at the ceremony. "We do have a special relationship with the Americans," he added.
"It's extremely important that we form and maintain these ties. The 301st is now officially our sister squadron."
"We totally appreciate your support," Colonel Pavey commented. "Not just as military person, but as a person, America appreciates your support" Colonel Pavey said of our allies in the continuing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I don't think we'll get a photo like that again," he added referring to the lineup of the three Allies' C-17s on the Brize Norton flightline.
"I first started (military) flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force," Colonel Neblett said, "and those years held some of my fondest memories." But, "I couldn't be more flattered to be here with you to share this as a climax to my career," Colonel Neblett, now 88 years old, said softly, his voice filled with emotion.
After a flight aboard a British VC-10 refueling mission, the team deplaned at Prestwick Airport. Once at Glasgow, they were welcomed to Scotland by Sandy Rankin, who had written a history of the C-47 crash and was host to the group as he led the way in the drive to Portpatrick.
Arriving at the centuries old harbor, the group was greeted by an entourage of about 100 local townsfolk and the entire class of the local Primary (elementary) School 6, aged 6 to 11 years. The welcoming committee included the town council members; the local pastor; Jimmy Brown, a bagpiper who played "Flowers of Scotland" during the memorial service; the district Lord Lieutenant Mrs. Terry Brewis, who represents Queen Elizabeth at such functions; and Mrs. Christine Wilson, secretary of the Portpatrick Antiquarian Society, who helped coordinate the visit.
The 301st presented another C-47 print to the town and a bronze plaque commemorating the flight and sacrifice of the crew who perished in the flight. Mrs. Leslie Cerexhe, chairman of the Portpatrick Community Council (the equivalent of an American mayor) presented the 301st with a commemorative plaque and a clock recovered from the wreckage of the C-47. The school children then gifted each of the heritage crew with local mementos and accepted 301st squadron booster club tokens in exchange.
At the end of the 301st's visit and the blur of a whirlwind trip began to slowly come into focus with farewells and mementos garnered from the 99th Squadron booster club, a solid friendship between individuals and two squadrons had been formed. A relationship where we don't see others as different from us, but perhaps we begin to see ourselves in others.
"It's been a very humbling experience and I feel fortunate to have been chosen to participate in this event," said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer LePore, a 301st AS C-17 loadmaster. "I have more empathy for them now. You begin to understand that they are just like we are; same concerns and issues, they are doing the same exact job we're doing.