Photo By Sgt. Michael Alberts | Soldiers of Company B, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade,...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Wings, continued its contributions to the Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Division-North partnership with a symbolic gift.
Soldiers of Company B, 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, TF Lobos, refurbished and dedicated an L-29 Delfin airplane for static display at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, outside of Tikrit, Iraq, Dec. 16.
The dedication occurred in conjunction with a ceremony marking the return and re-opening of the Iraqi Air Force College in its original location of Tikrit.
The L-29 Delfin originated in Czechoslovakia in 1959 and was powered by a Bristol Siddeley Viper turbo jet engine. It was designed as a straightforward, rugged and easy to fly aircraft. The L-29s were sold to Iraq between the late 1960's and early 1980's and were used primarily as jet trainers and advanced combat flight trainers.
Lt. Col. Erskine R. Bentley, TF Lobos commander, explained how his unit became involved with the L-29 Delfin now prominently displayed at an entrance control point to COB Speicher.
"During this unit's last rotation to Iraq in 2007 and 2008, Soldiers from Bravo Company located four different L-29s in various stages of destruction and disrepair," Bentley said. "Over a process of weeks and months, from those four planes, they pieced together a complete aircraft [without the engine and avionics] and displayed it in front of one of the dining facilities here."
"The Delfin is a unique part of Iraq's military history," he added. "Upon learning that the Iraqi Air Force College [was being re-opened here], we thought it fitting to dedicate it to them. Now it's a centerpiece of this location and hopefully serves to [highlight] the partnership between the United States, and Iraq's military and its citizens."
According to Chief Warrant Officer Two Jason Runckel, TF Lobos' maintenance technician and shops platoon leader from Tigard, Ore., refurbishing the L-29 was an entirely volunteer effort.
"It's the Soldiers that made this project happen both last deployment and this deployment," said Runckel. "They wanted to [demonstrate] their friendship with the Iraqis and mark this moment in history in their own way," he said.
Sergeant Robert Milam, a Tacoma, Wash. native, and Pfc. Daniel Pollard, a native of Weed, N.M., are both structural repair specialists, primarily involved in aircraft sheet metal repair. Milam and Pollard volunteered to assist with the L-29's restoration. They helped hammer out dents in the body of the Delfin, and assisted with sanding, stripping and re-painting.
Both Soldiers enjoyed participating in the project.
"We all volunteered our time on the project both last deployment and this deployment," said Milam. "I was happy to do it. It feels good to know that we've left our mark in a way that [our Iraqi counterparts] can appreciate too," he said.
"The Iraqis are our partners and this plane will be here as long as they want it," said Pollard. "We all took great pride in getting to contribute to the partnership in this way. I really want them to be proud of it and I hope they will be."
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2009 02:00 |
| Story ID: | 43315 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 374 |
| Downloads: | 309 |
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