Riding the Baghdad bullet - Feature story

Flight Sergeant Gary Suthers, a C-130J loadmaster from 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, catches up with the paperwork on his aircraft prior to the aircraft’s descent into Baghdad International Airport. Low Res | High Res

Leading Aircraftwoman Tunya Arnold, from the Baghdad-based Air Load Team, checks the alignment of an approaching TALU vehicle (Trailer Aircraft Loading/Unloading) as it makes its way towards an RAAF C-130J from 37 Squadron at Baghdad International Airport. The TALU is a self-propelled vehicle fitted with roller conveyor racks, allowing cargo pallets to be rolled on and off military cargo aircraft. Low Res | High Res

Soldiers from the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) step from a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules at Baghdad International Airport. The soldiers have been assigned to SECDET 7 (Security Detachment No.7) in Baghdad. Low Res | High Res

Flight Lieutenant Aaron Barker watches for aircraft movements while moving away from the ramp at Baghdad International Airport. The C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft will soon be hurtling across the Baghdad countryside as the aircraft returns to its base further south in the Middle East. Low Res | High Res

Co-pilot Flying Officer Paul McAskill keeps watch from the cockpit of a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force while flying away from Baghdad International Airport. Low Res | High Res

Co-pilot Flying Officer Paul McAskill keeps watch from the cockpit of a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force while flying away from Baghdad International Airport. Low Res | High Res

Warrant Officer Murray ‘Skip’ George, of 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, relaxes after leaving the anti-aircraft danger zone around Baghdad while flying south to another coalition base. Low Res | High Res

Flight Lieutenant Aaron Barker sits behind the controls of a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft as the automatic pilot flies the aircraft across the Persian Gulf. Low Res | High Res

Flying Officer Paul McAskill updates the in-flight paperwork while co-piloting a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force over the Persian Gulf. Low Res | High Res

The squadron patch worn by air and ground crew of 37 Squadron’s detachment in the Middle East. Low Res | High Res

By Corporal Cameron Jamieson, Directorate Defence Newspapers (filed 25 May 2005)

The Royal Australian Air Force Hercules cargo aircraft materialises from the sandstorm like ship from a fog.

I am sitting in a four-wheel drive at an air base in southeast Iraq, momentarily protected from the clouds of dust as I wait to join the aircraft for its Baghdad run. I was half expecting the flight to be cancelled due to the storm but there it is sharply descending onto the coalition airfield.

"It's too close," I accidentally say out loud. "It won't make it." But I am wrong.

Like a pelican on a lake the large Hercules lands and pulls up quickly.

The engines are left running as a few passengers are offloaded … and then there are hands waving at me telling me to get a move on and get inside.

While the wind whips around me I stagger with my bags into the cavernous hold of the mighty Hercules where willing hands grab my kit and lash it to the floor.

I take my seat along the side of the fuselage and strap myself in - already the aircraft is moving back to the runway.

The engines roar and I lean towards the cockpit to counter the inertia as we scream into the sky.

I have been granted permission to accompany the flight to Baghdad and then back to the base used by the C-130 detachment in the Middle East.

The aircraft I am riding in is one of two J model aircraft from No 37 Squadron based at RAAF Richmond in western Sydney.

They are in the region as part of Operation Catalyst, the Australian Government's commitment to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.

These aircraft regularly fly missions to Baghdad and other locations in Iraq as they move Australian and other coalition troops and cargo about.

Any memories of training flights vanish as I take in my surroundings and accept the reality of what is a dangerous situation.

I am sharing the aircraft with infantrymen from the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment who are heading to Baghdad to take over as the Australian Security Detachment (SECDET) there.

They have their body armour and helmets on with their rifles firmly grasped between their knees.

Their faces are stern as the aircraft is buffeted by ground turbulence, and for a moment the seriousness overtakes me, but only for a moment.

Suddenly there is laughter, cheering and pointing and I strain to see what has happened - the first soldier to throw up is using his airsickness bag.

I look towards the rear of the aircraft to see someone who is far too busy to share the infantrymen's humour.

Flight Sergeant Gary Suthers is one of two loadmasters assigned to the aircraft.

Seated by the starboard rear door, he is intently scanning through its window for any sign of ground fire as his thumb hovers above the firing button of his flare and chaff dispenser. The aircraft is fitted with advanced countermeasures to counter any threat, but the Mark 1 Eyeball hasn't been made redundant yet.

I look out a window across from me and see that the ground is falling away and soon Flight Sergeant Suthers leaves his window vigil and tells the passengers they can remove their helmets.

I take the opportunity to ask him about what goes through his mind when he is watching for trouble during their takeoffs and early manoeuvring?

"You don't have time to think about the dangers," he says.

"You're concentrating on doing your job and getting back safely.

"I think about it afterwards sometimes but it's a daily occurrence here so you just keep going."

He tells me he draws strength from the aircrew camaraderie that is prevalent in the squadron.

"The pilots and loadmasters are a tight-knit group," he says. "We always look after each other and watch each other's back."

I also talk to Warrant Officer Murray 'Skip' George … our other loadmaster.

He has previously served in Somalia, East Timor and in the Middle East, but he still approaches the job with the enthusiasm of a teenager with his first car.

"I've got the best job in the world," he says. "I've been doing it for 28 years and I still love my job. That's why I keep coming back."

I sense that the aircraft has started to descend which is confirmed when Flight Sergeant Suthers tells the passengers to don their helmets again.

The ground is rushing towards us now and the loadmasters have resumed their vigil through their windows.

The Baghdad bullet is approaching its target.

The cargo hold comes alive with noise as the aircraft prepares for landing. First there is a rushing sound of air as the cabin pressure is changed to suit the altitude.

Then the flaps squeal as they are lowered and always there is the rattle of aircraft fittings as potholes of ground turbulence jar the aircraft.

Above me there is an incredible sight as light shimmers and moves along the cabin roof like the reflection of a flowing stream.

I later ask what causes it but no one can explain it; it is a ghostly dream with no known reason.

I am woken from the watery spell by the grinding of gears as the undercarriage is lowered. This is followed by the bump and lurch as the aircraft touches down and the engines roar into full reverse.

We quickly taxi to the military parking area of Baghdad International Airport and unload the infantrymen and their equipment.

Our stay at Baghdad is short but there is enough time for me to meet the pilots.

The aircraft captain is Flight Lieutenant Aaron Barker who says that flying in Iraq involves the most exciting and challenging flying available to Hercules aircrews.

"It's a fairly big aircraft and we fly it at around its maximum speed," he says.

"It's very responsive given its size, and its advanced avionics greatly help us to do our job."

Flight Lieutenant Barker is at pains to stress the teamwork involved in safely flying the Hercules to its extremes.

"There is a lot of teamwork involved during the arrival and departure phase," he says.

"I'm expecting the co-pilot to back up the captain with both the flying and the observing for threats. The loadmasters also play a big role by maintaining a picture of what's happening around us.

"And it's not just anti-aircraft threats we are all watching for; terrain and obstacle avoidance are just as important."

Flying Officer Paul McAskill is the co-pilot, and his presence on the flight deck is the realisation of his dream to fly with the RAAF.

"I started flying before I joined the RAAF," he says, "but my goal was always to join because military flying appealed to me more than civilian flying."

Like the rest of the crew he is pleased to be in the Middle East doing what he enlisted to do.

"It's great to come over here and do something worthwhile," he says.

"Although we're a small contingent we're still moving a lot of people and equipment for both the Australian and coalition forces."

While we have been talking the ground crew have worked swiftly and the aircraft is ready to depart.

I am now in the observer's seat, slightly behind and in between the two pilots as we taxi past a sand-coloured Iroquois helicopter of the new Iraqi Air Force. Some US Apache armed reconnaissance helicopters, with painted shark mouths, and more US Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters than I can count.

We turn onto the concrete runway with its centre blackened for its full length by streaks of rubber from the tyres of innumerable aircraft.

The engines surge to full capacity as we launch down the runway. As we rise into a sky darkened by an approaching dust storm I am distracted as Flight Lieutenant Barker points to a hovering Apache helicopter to our left … its shark mouth grinning insanely at us.

We bank hard to the left and I am looking straight down into the backyards of Iraqi homes.

Another turn and we have levelled off blasting across the countryside and into the clouds of dust.

Suddenly I am pushed deep into my seat as we climb towards our cruising altitude.

Then there is a moment of weightlessness as we nose over and fly level.

The automatic pilot is engaged but the pilots don't relax until we leave dangerous airspace.

We leave Iraq and Warrant Officer George climbs up to the flight deck to announce we can take off our body armour. So I take mine off with surprise to see how damp it is from the sweat brought on more by tension than by heat.

Later, as we cruise over the Persian Gulf, I can't help but be amazed at how the aircrew can do this job day in, day out.

For me this trip has been a sensory landslide but for the crew it has been just another Baghdad bullet trip.

And they'll do it all again tomorrow.