The White Falcon - 07.10.1983, Blaðsíða 4

4 THE WHITE FALCON/October 7, 1983
C-118 Fire, from 1
After viewing the charred interior of the Station C-118 aircraft* a fire marshall from
Norfolk has investigated and determined that the fire appears to have been intentionally
set. The rapid response of the NATO Base Fire Department and other parties involved was
instrumental in preventing further damage to the aircraft. (Photo by PH2 Mays)
The captain went on to express his plea-
sure that the fire had not spread to the
hangar or to the other aircraft parked in-
side and that no personnel had been injured
in the incident.
Additionally, CAPT McVadon pointed out
that, even if the plane never flies again,
there is some salvagable equipment to put
in the station's remaining C-118 aircraft.
"We are going to step out smartly. I have
discussed with my air operations officer
and especially the air operations depart-
ment people that we are going to do the
best we can. We're hoping to get 131578 --
the other C-118 -- into the air in order to
make the next scheduled EM&L trip."
Air Force Security Chief Capt. Wally Lu-
cas described the apprehension of the sus-
pect at the scene. "Shortly after our per-
sonnel called in the fire our flight chief,
TSgt. Leonard Mica, called in some support
personnel -- one of our response teams.
They were called in to search the area to
see if they could find any evidence or per-
sonnel who happened to be in the area. They
came upon an individual who was acting sus-
picious. When they approached him, he fled
on foot. He was subsequently apprehended
by our response team and turned over to
Naval Station Security, who in turn, trans-
ferred him to the Naval Investivative Ser-
vice for questioning."
Capt. Lucas had nothing but praise for
the security team, who in his words, "used
superior judgment" in not using their wea-
pons to apprehend the individual. Further-
more, he cited the quick-action by the Air
Force security personnel at calling in the
fire and in immediately alerting all people
in the area -- an act which saved both liv-
es and property.
TSgt. Mica, the senior Air Force securi-
ty person on the scene initially, credits
other security personnel with contacting
other agencies quickly to remove the other
aircraft from the hangar. AlCs Ernest H.
Campbell and Cecil E. White were, according
to Mica, the first to turn in the fire
call and they, along with other personnel
from AWACS and Det. 14, joined together to
pull the other aircraft out of the hangar
and away from the danger present.
(Additional details of the effort to
save the other aircraft appears in the art-
icle below.)
Quick response saves other aircraft
By Maj. Jack Warner, USAF
960th AWACS, Chief of Maintenance
Duty within the Aircraft Generation
Branch (AGB) of the 960th Airborne Warning
and Control Squadron (AWACS) can be either
extremely active or extremely quiet. The
branch is responsible for providing main-
tenance actions necessary to launch and re-
cover alert E-3A and KC-135A aircraft.
On Saturday morning at approximately
5:30, unknowingly to those on duty, the
quietness of the day was about to turn into
a crisis situation. The AGB alert mainten-
ance team was biding their time in Hangar
885, Tower Two -- located between the alert
E-3A and the Navy's "new" C-118. Suddenly
the hangar's fire alarm system initiated.
SSgts. Randall W. Jencks and Odell Bark-
er Jr., Sgt. David A. Bink and SrA Dennis
L. Nichols immediately hurried down the
back stairs via the northeast AGB Tower Two
stairwell to see what initiated the alarm
system. Once they reached the ground floor,
which exits into the C-118 bay, they saw
flames leaping out of the C-118. They turn-
ed around and relayed the "fire in the han-
gar" alarm back up the stairs.
Everyone, except for SSgt. Jencks, charg-
208, from 1
which became John Paul Jones' first naval
command. Yank wouldn't consider it odd to
have sailors of various racial backgrounds
working together, but he would find it
strange to see black officers.
The idea of the U.S. Navy having 44 in-
stallations in foreign countries and 13 in-
stallations in U.S. territories would also
be a mind-blower for Yank. He'd probably
think he was actually in the Royal Navy.
One thing Yank probably wouldn't find sur-
prising is that many people come into the
Navy today for some of the same reasons --
patriotism and adventure -- along with edu-
cational opportunities, a reason that vir-
tually didn't exist in his day.
What would a contemporary sailor find in
the U.S. Navy two centuries, or even less,
down the road? Many changes undoubtedly
will occur, but some of the best things,
like camaraderie, will always stay the
same.
ed back up the stairs to evacuate the re-
maining branch personnel. SSgt. Jencks ran
over to the AGB support section and called
the Naval Station Fire Department. He and
A1C Steven M. MacNaught, who was on duty in
the support section, ran out into the E-3A
hangar.
Outside the hangar, Sgts. Paul E. Mathis
Jr. and Kevin P. Jeffries, plus A1C Keith
T. Vaden -- a TDY crew chief from the 2nd
Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA -- were at
the alert KC-135 heating its on-board, de-
mineralized water. (Water is used for ex-
tra engine thrust on takeoff). They noticed
fire trucks responding to the east side of
the hangar and soon saw the large, west
hangar doors begin to open. Thinking that
there might be an E-3A scramble in progress
they drove the maintenance expeditor truck
to the area of the opening doors. As they
arrived smoke began to bellow out of the
space between the opened doors. SSgt. Jef-
fries jumped out of the truck and ran into
the smoke-filled hangar to assist the as-
sembled tow team members.
At this point, TSgt. Michael L. Shipp
had made the decision to try and back the
E-3A out and was in the process of organiz-
ing his tow team members while the hangar
doors were being fully opened. The smoke
continued to pour into the E-3A portion of
the hangar. SSgt. Jeffries realized TSgt.
Shipp needed someone in the E-3A to "ride
brakes," so he climbed aboard and the tow
was about ready to commence.
During the period the tow team was or-
ganizing, SSgt. Bryan J. Thompson, night
supervisor of the maintenance coordination
center, was busy notifying the fire depart-
ment, Air Forces Iceland OPCON, and Central
Security about the fire and the emergency
tow of the E-3A. After he completed his
notifications, SSgt. Thompson ran into the
hangar and helped with the aircraft tow.
The following personnel assisted in
readying the aircraft for emergency towing
from the hangar: TSgt. Michael L. Shipp,
SSgts. Odell Barker Jr., Randall W. Jencks,
Irene J. Moyle and Bryan J. Thompson, Sgts.
Kevin P. Jeffries, David L. Scott and David
A. Bink; SrAs Michael D. Wenrick and Dennis
L. Nichols; and AlCs Steven M. MacNaught and
John W. Horst.
By this time the thick smoke had totally
filled the E-3A hangar and made visibility
extremely limited. SSgt. Jencks, the tow
tractor operator, said "I couldn't see past
the E-3A's number two engine. I just hoped
the wingtips wouldn't hit anything." SSgt.
Barker relayed messages between the tow
team supervisor and SSgt. Jencks. The team
towed the aircraft safely out of the hangar
and backed it clear of danger. The entire
operation, which normally takes 15 minutes,
was performed in six minutes. Once the E-3A
was stopped and chocked in place, TSgt.
Shipp did a head count of those at the air-
craft and accounted for all 960th AWACS
personnel on duty.
Just to be safe, Lt. Col. Gary Clark,
960th commander, directed five members of
the tow team to the local clinic for smoke
inhalation. All were treated and released.
These professional airmen of the 960th
AWACS put their lives on the line and,
without error, quickly and safely removed a
$134-mi 11 ion national asset from potential
destruction. Their ability to analyze the
situation, use sound judgment and recall
their past training allowed them to evacuate
their fellow workers and the aircraft to
safety.
JUiljtte falcon
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