NEW CASTLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Del. (Aug. 4, 2026) — B-roll footage shows Tech. Sgt. Evan Ahtes, a loadmaster assigned to the 142d Airlift Squadron, 166th Airlift Wing, preparing for and conducting an aerial resupply mission aboard a Delaware Air National Guard C-130H3 Hercules aircraft during Exercise Castaway 26-6. Footage includes Ahtes donning required flight and safety equipment, opening and securing the cargo ramp and door, visually identifying the designated drop zone, releasing supplies to personnel on the ground, and securing the aircraft following the airdrop.
Exercise Castaway brought together the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard; the 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base; and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. U.S. Air Force survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists, C-5M Super Galaxy and C-130 Hercules aircrews, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and rescue forces practiced personnel recovery operations.
The exercise focused on survival, signaling, communication and coordinated search and rescue procedures that enable recovery forces to locate and recover isolated personnel.
Loadmasters are responsible for the safe loading, restraint and aerial delivery of cargo while ensuring the aircraft remains properly configured throughout each phase of flight.
During Exercise Castaway 26-6, the loadmaster supported personnel recovery training by conducting an aerial resupply to simulated isolated personnel.
This video is part of a multi-package B-roll series documenting the 166th Airlift Wing's participation in Exercise Castaway 26-6.
(U.S. Air National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Yonette Martin)
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2026 16:16 |
| Category: | B-Roll |
| Video ID: | 1018080 |
| VIRIN: | 260804-Z-TI414-1002 |
| Filename: | DOD_111892068 |
| Length: | 00:03:36 |
| Location: | NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE, US |
| Downloads: | 4 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 4 |
This work, 142d Airlift Squadron loadmaster conducts airdrop operations during Exercise Castaway 26-6, by SSgt Yonette Martin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
