America's North Shore Journal

United Nations map of pakistan flood zone August 18, 2010. Click for a larger image.

NASA image from space of flood zone in Pakistan. Click for a larger image.

Lieutenant Sean Snyder, of Sanger, California, a pilot and part of his crew, Navy Air Crewman Second Class Kevin Strickhouser of Houston, Texas

Among the many soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines that are a part of the United States military’s response to the monsoon flooding in Pakistan are two sailors from a Navy helicopter squadron based in Bahrain, HM-15. On August 19, we were able to interview Lieutenant Sean Snyder, of Sanger, California, a pilot and part of his crew, Navy Air Crewman Second Class Kevin Strickhouser of Houston, Texas.

HM-15 is one of the Navy’s Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons. It flies the Sikorsky MH-53E “Sea Dragon” Helicopter. When emptied of its mine detection gear, it is a formidable lifting platform.

Lt. Snyder told us that his unit has been operating out of Pakistan’s Ghazi Air Base and into the Swat valley in Pakistan’s northwest. Weather has been an issue with conditions, either at Ghazi or in the landing zone allowing for only a few days of activity. In five days, the unit has carried about 1,600 people and 271,000 pounds of relief supplies.

The altitude of the various landing zones is also affecting the response. Snyder reported that loads have limited to about half the weight that the Sea Dragon might carry at sea level. The max has been about 10,000 pounds of material or about 80 passengers.

There are three Sea Dragons and three Marine CH-53 Sea Stallions at Ghazi. The Navy brought about 35 sailors in to maintain their aircraft, and a total of 59 people. Snyder said that there were about 218 people at Ghazi for all the aircraft that are operating there.

LCDR Jim Hoeft, who is working with the media during this operation, provided the following in an e-mail:

On 19 Aug, US military helicopters supporting relief operations in Pakistan have transported 77,560 lbs of relief supplies and rescued 330 people.

On 19 Aug, three US military C-130 aircraft transported 75,490 pounds from Rawalpindi to Sukkur, Jacobabad, Quetta and Multan, Pakistan, containing food and relief supplies in support of airlift requests by the Government of Pakistan.