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CNN Sunday Morning

Inside U.S. Humanitarian Missions to Afghanistan

Aired October 14, 2001 - 08:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Even as the U.S. conducts attacks on Afghanistan, there is a humanitarian side to Operation Enduring Freedom. Massive C-17 cargo planes, known as global masters are a special mission on their delivery efforts to send food to displaced Afghans.

CNN's Kyra Phillips gives us a look insight the huge aircraft.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For security reasons, we can't tell you this pilot's last name, but we can tell you Colonel John has executed many missions in his Air Force career.

COL. JOHN: OK, loadmaster pilot. Let's do the before starting engines checklist.

PHILLIPS: However, nothing quite like this one.

COL. JOHN: Well, it's unique that we're doing humanitarian drops on -- we did it on the first night of the war, and that's totally unprecedented. I think it says a lot about the United States, that we're dropping bombs and we're dropping humanitarian aid at the same time.

PHILLIPS: Humanitarian aid that's possible because of this C-17 in the 437th Airlift Wing from the United States Air Force.

Sergeant Corey is in charge of these food drops. Oxygen keeps this loadmaster breathing. This line keeps him standing as he dangles from the edge of his aircraft, making sure thousands and thousands of vegetarian rations get to the victims of this war against terrorism.

(on camera): How do you know it's a successful drop?

SGT. COREY: If all the bundles go out, it's a good day.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Using precision coordinates on highly computerized navigation systems in extremely dangerous territory, Colonel John says pilots hit targets within 100 yards almost every time.

COL. JOHN: The missions in Afghanistan, they're taking 20 -- up to 22 hours to fly. But over the drop zone is just a few minutes. You slow the airplane down real rapidly, open up the doors, get the green light and the load is released and it's out of the airplane and you speed back up and get out of there.

PHILLIPS: Also in this air mobility command: the 315th Airlift Wing Reserves, nurses and medical technicians trained to keep soldiers alive and aid any innocent civilians in any country that may get caught in the crossfire.

MAJOR ED: As you saw in Kosovo and such as that, we're bringing a lot of kids home and doing some humanitarian-type stuff, so our role is to take care of patients wherever they may be.

PHILLIPS: The C-17 may carry out may types of operations, but it has only one mission: aid for victims hoping to survive this war and the troops that plan on winning it.

Kyra Phillips, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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