Article

2015-06-02 Government

USAF C-17 used to MEDIVAC Kerry back to the States.

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Posted by Besoeker 2015-06-02 05:10|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 Probably a mission assigned to the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron out of Ramstein, AB. I hope the airframe was, or is not needed elsewhere for a legitimate mission.

FWIW, a busted leg in a 71-year old isn't a good thing, and if SecState managed to bust it coming off a bike he probably dinged himself up pretty good. The guy is in the line of succession, and all things considered I've got no problem with this. On the other hand...if anybody got shafted out of a ride home, then I've got a problem.

And I have no doubt we'll hear about it right quickly.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2015-06-02 05:41|| 2015-06-02 05:41|| Front Page Top

#2 It's likely the same one he flew in on. Unless SecState is traveling high profile, i.e. one of the AF Gulfstreams, they usually have an unmarked cargo flight with what is basically a luxo travel trailer inside. It's basically a portable apartment.

Posted by ed in texas 2015-06-02 07:27|| 2015-06-02 07:27|| Front Page Top

#3 DoD is the fetch boy for State. Has been for a while. It was the then Dept of War that rebuilt Germany and Japan, not State. How's the 'development' record been since State took the drivers seat?

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-06-02 07:45|| 2015-06-02 07:45|| Front Page Top

#4 ed in texas,

I didn't know that about the SecState's travel arrangements - back in the day I had a couple chances to see what they like to refer to as 'comfort pallets', and they can be pretty damned nice. Best one I ever saw was the one permanently mounted in 'MAC One' when it was a C-141 - that was also the one where a four star 'borrowed' the plane to get from Europe back to the states and brought several female enlisted 'aides' with him.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2015-06-02 07:46|| 2015-06-02 07:46|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm thinking the C-17 was required for the ego.

Posted by Pholurt Turkeyneck7518 2015-06-02 08:07|| 2015-06-02 08:07|| Front Page Top

#6 JFnK will probably submit his paperwork for the Presidential Medal of Freedom as the result of his bicycle ride during the course of duty.

Posted by JohnQC 2015-06-02 09:32|| 2015-06-02 09:32|| Front Page Top

#7 " #2 It's likely the same one he flew in on. Unless SecState is traveling high profile, i.e. one of the AF Gulfstreams, they usually have an unmarked cargo flight with what is basically a luxo travel trailer inside. "

Not sure where you got this but not true. Flys in an AF SAM (Special Air Mission) converted 757ER unless flying on AF 1 w/POTUS. Chances are the C-17 could get him back quicker especially if the SAM crew had "crew rest" issues. I've seen SECTSTATE goes wheels up/down numerous times. Always in a SAM bird.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2015-06-02 11:45|| 2015-06-02 11:45|| Front Page Top

#8 If he's not on a SAM, he's 'BINGO' for his COMS package for the duration of the flight. Makes me think his condition might be more serious than what the media has released.

Correct me if wrong on line one Billy.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-06-02 11:52|| 2015-06-02 11:52|| Front Page Top

#9 Its tough to crash a bike bad enough to break a leg and not bang around the rest of the body, even with a helmet, it hurts.

At the very least, it doesn't look purty.

Posted by swksvolFF 2015-06-02 11:59|| 2015-06-02 11:59|| Front Page Top

#10 They have mobile comm package they take. Not exactly "hand held" but portable. Would depend the right connections on the C-17 but he was never out of touch (comm-wise that is). The TS and data stuff is a little different.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2015-06-02 12:06|| 2015-06-02 12:06|| Front Page Top

#11 Thanks for the update Billy.

but he was never out of touch (comm-wise that is). Whahahahhaha

Posted by Besoeker 2015-06-02 12:10|| 2015-06-02 12:10|| Front Page Top

#12 Makes me think his condition might be more serious than what the media has released.

Fractured femur is never good.

Posted by Pappy 2015-06-02 12:44|| 2015-06-02 12:44|| Front Page Top

#13 Hitting the curb - I heard on local talk radio yesterday that France has 'double curbs' (what that looks like, I have no idea) which may have contributed to the crash.

Three things - a) JFK's likely ridden those roads enough that he should have known about this; b) from what I hear about JFK's riding ability, I would not ride with him; c) I have about 50,000 lifetime miles on a bike - I can recall eight crashes, none of them caused by hitting a curb.

Posted by Raj 2015-06-02 13:07|| 2015-06-02 13:07|| Front Page Top

#14 Awkward stop and fallover could fracture the leg of someone his age. Embarassing and obnoxious for sure.

Bike slipping out on a turn could break anyone's leg, plus the road rash.

Legit crash could cause a compound fracture plus other injuries, serious stuff.

As well to consider, blood clots and internal injuries.

Bike wrecks or broken bones are no bueno at any age. I'd guess there is a nifty medical package on that plane.

Posted by swksvolFF 2015-06-02 13:10|| 2015-06-02 13:10|| Front Page Top

#15 I have a friend - chemistry prof - who got cornered into either a jersey barrier or a curb by a car & broke his arm and collarbone bad enough to need to get a bunch of pins. And *he* wasn't doing 30 mph plus going down a mountain, which is what I heard elsewhere was what Kerry was doing when he hit his curb.

Posted by Mitch H. 2015-06-02 14:11|| 2015-06-02 14:11|| Front Page Top

#16 Someone from the Air Force should throw Kerry's bike over the Whitehouse fence in a symbolic gesture of solidarity.

Posted by airandee 2015-06-02 16:10|| 2015-06-02 16:10|| Front Page Top

#17 C-17 w/Airstream living quarters and surgical unit

Posted by Skidmark 2015-06-02 19:24|| 2015-06-02 19:24|| Front Page Top

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