For those of you who served in OEF, did you fly your last leg to your provincial reconstruction team in a Sherpa or similar aircraft?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:42:48 -0400

My Civil Affairs Battalion (426th CA BN, Upland, California) was flown in by commercial jet to Kyrgyzstan. We were then flown by a C-17 into Afghanistan. From there, our teams were reassigned to different bases throughout Afghanistan. After a couple of days, we were flown to the Provincial Reconstruction Team FARAH province Afghanistan in an aircraft similar or like to this one. I cannot recall exactly.

Did any of you fly to your final destination in this Army Sherpa aircraft? The aircraft was civilian contracted and the pilot was definitely over 60 years old. It reminded me of the CIA 1960s and '70s Air America. The cockpit did not have a cockpit door.

Two soldiers who served with me could not recall what aircraft we flew in, but this aircraft looks like the type. You had one seat at each window and a cargo area that you would load from the back. I don't remember if it had this tail section so I'm asking Rally Point members who served in Afghanistan if they recall contractors flying them to their respective forward operating bases on aircraft like these?

It was propeller-driven like this and very noisy. I doubt the aircraft was pressurized.

I did fly an ISAF flight (weekly Taxi) C-130 transport that would fly to Farah to Khandahar, Bagram, Kabul, Herat and back to Farah. I also saw Turbo Prop DC-3s at Farah. I just wanted those reading this to know I know my aircraft but for some reason, I did not take pictures of this aircraft before boarding or after landing in Farah, Afghanistan.

I have a video of a Canadian ISAF flight that took us to Khandahar for a Civil Affairs project we were working to get approved. I will post it in the comments.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 2:07 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:07:02 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FilhnEu5eD8

Canadian C-130 at PRT Farah and Guarded by Canadian MPs

A Canaidan ISAF C-130 at the old PRT Farah April, 2009.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 2:10 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:10:07 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGATJQSNRVU

Memories of driving outside PRT Farah and into the main compound April, 2009

PRT Farah was returned to the Afghan Government. This is to all who served at this PRT from 2005 to 2010.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 2:11 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:11:27 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0vx8Pt4lc

PRT FARAH Christmas Parade Dec 25, 2008

Our forward Operating Base had a Christmas Parade in Farah, Afghanistan. We were Army Reserve, Active Duty Navy, and Illinois Army National Guard. We also ha...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 2:12 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:12:05 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU0ED3RBxXw

ILLINOIS Army National Guard Infantry playing Music at PRT Farah December, 2008

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. Soldiers play music with M249 Saw Machine Gun by Christmas Tree. Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers doing a great jo...

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jun 7 at 2023 2:27 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:27:15 -0400

Sherman are okay, but when you have to put a block under the rear to keep it from tipping...well, you have to wonder about the designer.

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Jun 7 at 2023 7:39 AM

1SG Russell S. — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 07:39:19 -0400

I flew on a “grey beard” DeHavilland D8 once. Once was enough as those retired pilots were great but loose. Horrible cross winds.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 7 at 2023 7:58 AM

MAJ Ron Peery — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 07:58:48 -0400

No. Flying in was always a C-130. When we were leaving after our tour, we drove from Farah to Herat, and had to hitch a ride on an ancient IL-76 after waiting two days for our "scheduled" flight that never came. That took us as far as Kabul after a roundabout route through Kandahar.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Jun 7 at 2023 10:45 AM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:45:24 -0400

No, my last tour (2013) I flew commercial into Al Udied, then took military transport into Kyrgyzstan, followed by C-17 into Kandahar, or straight into Shindand, and leaving through Kandahar and Bagram (R&R / Redeployment). While in country stationed at Shindand (2013-14) I got to and from Herat via the AAF's Cessna 208. For my first deployment for OEF in 2002, I was forward deployed to Bagram from Saudi by taking a C-130 into Seeb, Oman, followed by another C-130 into Bagram.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 7 at 2023 10:50 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:50:14 -0400

I was in prior to OEF but several of the vets I've spoken with mentioned the aircraft and the Army Sherpa was one of those

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 4:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:33:57 -0400

Yes, I don't know the model of the aircraft though.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2023 4:51 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:51:27 -0400

I entered Afghanistan almost the same way you did sir, back in '09. Commerical to Kyrgyzstan, C-130 to Bagram, C-130 to KAF, Chinook to Shindand. On RR, I hitched a ride on a civilian helicopter, but for the life of me I cannot remember the details. Great flight, just me and the pilot. I think it was from Bagrum to KAF.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2023 9:28 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 21:28:51 -0400

I rode a Sherpa between Campbell and Bragg, and jumped out of a Sherpa at least once at Bragg, before the war started.

My ride into Kandahar on Christmas Eve 2001 was a C-17, still with that new car smell.
The first and last time I rode in a USAF airframe that was not years older than me.

Response by CSM Thomas Ray made Jun 11 at 2023 10:16 AM

CSM Thomas Ray — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:16:45 -0400

Yes, we called them, UUFO (Ugly, Unidentified, Flying, Object), I recall when loaded, we would have to go to the front for takeoff, because of the weight. They were not pressurized and were hell on the ears. As I recall they were manufactured in Ireland.

Response by SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D made Jun 13 at 2023 2:05 PM

SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 14:05:40 -0400

Great share Sir, Gracias

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 20 at 2023 6:35 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:35:28 -0400

Good evening LTC Private RallyPoint Member. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this. I recall when 2-2 INF deployed in 2010 We took a commercial flight to Kyrgyzstan. Then We took a C-17 into B.A.F. From B.A.F. We took a Chinook into the Ghazni Province at F.O.B. Four Corners. From F.O.B. Four Corners We took a convoy to C.O.P. Miri.