Post by MG Laura McArthur on Aug 6, 2017 0:38:43 GMT -5
Listening to Sokolov's suggestion of a formal briefing before they sent the Advance Op part of their plan to Belle Isle, McArthur nodded her agreement. "It'll have to be quick; here's what I'm thinking. As soon as we're done here, I'll have Colonel Campbell outfit two Blackhawks with long-distance refueling pods: their job will be to top off the SH-60's - I'm thinking six Seahawks total - once they're off the ground. We'll use the Seahawks rather than the UH-60s' because the SH variant has better mileage and a longer reach; unfortunately, they aren't armed, which means they'll be sitting naked.
"Escorting them will be four Corsairs outfitted with a pair of drop tanks for extra distance, which they'll need because once our people are on the ground in Belle Isle, they'll be flying back the way they came, so I'm going to need a couple of your aircraft to serve as radio relays between them, the Advance Op team and Albany.
"On our end, Colonel McKenna will lead; from what I've read of her work with your teams here at the airport, it only makes sense for her to lead our half. She'll pick out who she needs with her; I trust her judgment there. Once they're on the ground, our Advance Op team will work with Belle Isle's leadership but they're to use their best judgment once on-site. They're also to contact us once daily as circumstances allow, Admiral; I want that because until our Ground side links up with them, they'll be way out on a limb." Blowing out a long breath, McArthur added, "I think I now know how the British felt when they saw Montgomery's plans for Market Garden in 1944; hopefully, we'll end up like the Americans did at Eindhoven and Nijmegen and not like the British ultimately did at Arnhem..."
"Escorting them will be four Corsairs outfitted with a pair of drop tanks for extra distance, which they'll need because once our people are on the ground in Belle Isle, they'll be flying back the way they came, so I'm going to need a couple of your aircraft to serve as radio relays between them, the Advance Op team and Albany.
"On our end, Colonel McKenna will lead; from what I've read of her work with your teams here at the airport, it only makes sense for her to lead our half. She'll pick out who she needs with her; I trust her judgment there. Once they're on the ground, our Advance Op team will work with Belle Isle's leadership but they're to use their best judgment once on-site. They're also to contact us once daily as circumstances allow, Admiral; I want that because until our Ground side links up with them, they'll be way out on a limb." Blowing out a long breath, McArthur added, "I think I now know how the British felt when they saw Montgomery's plans for Market Garden in 1944; hopefully, we'll end up like the Americans did at Eindhoven and Nijmegen and not like the British ultimately did at Arnhem..."