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CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Marine Attack Squadron 214 "Black Sheep," Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, tested its rapid ground refueling capabilities August 24.
A group of Black Sheep maintainers flew from Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, to Camp Bastion shortly before the arrival of two of the unit's AV-8B Harriers.
After rushing to the refueling area taxiway, the maintainers began a thorough cleanup of the taxiway. To help complete the cleanup, Royal Air Force's 2 Mechanical Transport, from Wittering, England, used their own assets to help clear the taxiway of all foreign objects and debris.
With the runway cleared, the jets were cleared to land. Once the jets landed, Black Sheep plane captains ushered the Harriers to a Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 "Sand Sharks", MAG-40, MEB-A, Forward Air Refueling Position where the jets could refuel.
"Normally a jet will take in approximately 1,000 to 1,500 [gallons] of fuel at a given time," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brad Kussatz, the fuels officer for the Sand Sharks.
After the NASCAR-style pit stop, Marines added water to cool the Harriers' turbine and then sent them off back to Kandahar.
If needed, the unit could have another station for ordnance arming or de-arming as well, said Gunnery Sgt. Jason Pearcey, Black Sheep ordnance staff non-commissioned officer in charge.
The mission proved that more rapid refuels can be planned for the future, said Maj. James Bardo, the Black Sheep maintenance officer in charge.
The unit trained specifically for rapid ground refueling March 23 - 25 at the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field, Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which many deploying units use due to the similarity of the 29 Palms terrain with Afghanistan.
"It was good to do what we had trained to do in [Twentynine Palms]. The training became reality," said Cpl. Robert Moore, VMA-214 seat mechanic.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2009 07:17 |
| Story ID: | 37913 |
| Location: | CAMP BASTION, AF |
| Web Views: | 363 |
| Downloads: | 276 |
This work, VMA-214 tests rapid ground refueling techniques in Afghanistan, by LCpl Gregory Aalto, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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