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             Flying Operations
            
            		During its 31-day deployment, the 94th found it necessary to
            conduct flying operations at three separate locations including RAF
            Lakenheath, Cairo West (an air base 25 miles west of Cairo), and Sharjah.
            A separate command element was established for the aircraft remaining at
            Alconbury. The lines of command and control stretched about as far as
            they could go. 32
            
            		Aircrews began flying missions the day following the unit's arrival
            at Sharjah, but crews and aircraft were not as heavily tasked throughout the
            deployment as they had expected to be. In fact, some crews were told to
            go out and "just fly around." Others missorts carried very small or partial
            loads. One factor was the H-model C-130 aircraft. Since it was not in the
            active force's inventory, not all scheduling personnel were familiar with it nor
            did they realize it could carry a larger load than other C-130 aircraft.
            Consequently, tasking was set up for the average C-130. If a Reserve
            H-model took on its full load, it disrupted the flow because it took part or
            all of the next aircraft's load as well as its own.33
            
            		With a crew of five the C-130H aircraft could carry 92 troops, 64
            paratroops, or 74 litters for wounded soldiers. The aircraft weighed 80,713
            pounds empty, had a maximum payload of 41,007 pounds and a wingspan
            of 132.6 feet. It had a total fuel capacity of 9,248 gallons and could fly
            1,782 nautical miles with a full payload.34
            
            		During the deployment, aircrews flew 243.1 hours in 90 sorties.
            Some 311 passengers and 299.5 tons of cargo were airlifted, all air/land;
            there were no air drops. Most of the missions were flown in support of
            Desert Star.35
            
            		Aircrews did experience some problems, one of which concerned
            command and control of theater assigned airlift forces which seemed to be
            cumbersome and at times ineffective. The only communication link with the
            Airlift Control Center (ALCC) was Secure Voice/Data Satellite
            

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              32 Cameron Intvw.
            
            	33  Intvw, P.R. Stone with SMSgt John Hamrich, Chief Loadmaster, 700
            TAS, 30 Jan 91; Peacock Intvw.
            
             34  USAF Fact Sheet, C-130H
            
             35  Excerpt, Hist, 94 TAW, Jan-Dec 90, Sup Doc 2.
            
            
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