433rd Clergy Day Flight a Heaven-Sent Success

  • Published
  • By Elsa Martinez
  • 433 AW
Lackland AFB, Texas --  They braved the chill February morning air and arrived at daybreak from all over Texas. Nothing stopped more than 50 representatives of faith-based organizations from attending the Alamo Wing's first Clergy Day.  The day's goal was to give all guests, each nominated by 433rd Airlift Wing Airmen, some insight about the wing's missions so they would be better prepared to minister to the needs of Reservists in their congregations--no mean feat for any unit to achieve.  

"Everything about this plane is big," they learned from Brig. Gen. John Fobian, 433rd AW commander as he delivered the unit's mission briefing. The guests soon learned the truth of that statement upon leaving the auditorium for the waiting C-5A Galaxy. 

A round of comments rose from almost every passenger as they marveled at the up-close perspective seldom seen by civilians. After the aircrew gave the signal, the clerical guests boarded the monster-sized aircraft and once again expressed their sense of awe at the immense cargo capacity. A 2.5-ton truck and HMMV vehicle, lashed to the cargo floor, helped give a sense of scale to a cargo hold capable of holding six school busses. After a series of blinding camera flashes, 68th Airlift Squadron loadmasters, Senior Master Sgts. Joe Basaldua and Charlie Cardenas, led them up the stairs leading to the troop compartment and flight deck. A few of the clergy, chosen by drawing, were allowed to occupy seats in the flight deck during take-off and landing. 

The flight traveled north to Waco and west to Wink, Texas. During the 3.5-hour flight, guests had time to pass between the troop compartment and the flight deck to observe aerial refueling. A KC-135, assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in Pittsburgh, provided the fuel hook-up, and the tanker's boom operator was clearly visible to those on the flight deck. Despite an occasional bump during the flight--common to aerial-refueling flights--and a bit of queasiness for some, all clergy were enthralled about the in-flight refueling and the experience of flying aboard the largest aircraft in the USAF inventory.

When the C-5 landed back at home-station, General Fobian was on hand to thank each guest as they deplaned for military buses, with flight meals in hand. Several guests opted to eat their flight meals while watching Airmen from the 74th Aerial Port Squadron drive the vehicles out of the plane's cargo compartment. Once the demonstration was complete, and everyone was bussed back to their parked cars, many lingered, reluctant to end the unforgettable day. 

"I had a memorable day," said Rev. Linda Martella-Whitsett, minister of the Unity Church of San Antonio, as she breathlessly exited through the aircraft's visor. The one thing she wished she had, before the flight, was a little piece of advanced information. "I would have liked to know that the temperature on the aircraft was cold!" 

Rev. Gary Lange ,of Peace Lutheran Church in New Braunfels, said he learned "...how big a sacrifice (Reservists) make for us and that they have fun at what they do."
Pastor Pete Pawelek, of the Cowboy Fellowship Church in Pleasanton, echoed the sentiments of many of his fellow clergy, "Great day--thank you! I hope you do it again!"