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Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 load a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-5 Galaxy in preparation for Operation Cold Response 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 3, 2016. The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct combat operations in a cold weather environment. Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird

Marines with HMH-464 load CH-53Es in preparation for Operation Cold Response

8 Feb 2016 | Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Getting ready to battle the cold in Norway, Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 prepared for Operation Cold Response 2016 by loading CH-53E Super Stallions into a massive C-5 Galaxy at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Feb. 3.

Loading the disassembled aircraft onto the C-5, the Marines closely monitored the giant heavy-lift helicopters to ensure they remained undamaged, as they were delicately maneuvered inside the aircraft.

“One of the struggles when loading these aircraft would include putting an already large aircraft into a slightly larger aircraft,” said Cpl. Dennis L. Tice Jr., a CH-53E helicopter mechanic with HMH-464. “It is almost like playing a game of operation,” said Tice, referring to a once-popular child’s game penalized players if they were careless in removing parts from small confined spaces.

For some of the Marines, this was their first time loading a CH-53E into another aircraft.

“It is something that is not done very often,” said Sgt. Kevin T. Peters, a crew chief with HMH-464. “It’s a rare occurrence, but doing it creates leaders for the next Marines that need to load an aircraft by giving them the knowledge and experience on how to properly load the CH-53E onto a C-5.”

After the aircraft were loaded, the Marines departed on their flight to Norway to begin training.

Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise.

The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct joint combat operations in a cold-weather environment.

“After landing, we will off-load the aircraft and build up our training area,” said Peters. “When everything is put into place, we will begin conducting Operation Cold Response.”


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2nd Marine Aircraft Wing