A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter flew back to the United States, January 29, 2009, in the belly of an Air Force C-5 Galaxy cargo jet. The mission returned the helicopter to its home station in North Carolina by way of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, South Carolina.

The C-5, which belongs to the Air Force's 337th Airlift Squadron from Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts, was detailed in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti to return the CH-53E to the United States. From start to finish, it took four days to retrieve the helicopter.

This type of load is unusual for heavy-lift helicopter squadrons and Galaxy crews, and the interoperable environment of the lift presented a new experience for the Airmen and Marines.

Marine Captain Christopher Bedzis is an HMH-464, Detatchment A, pilot based at MCAS New River, N.C. Bedzis has been assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) mission since August, primarily flying Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and humanitarian assistance missions.

"We were able to work with the Air Force, Army and Navy just about every day. It's something we don't normally get to do, so when we get to do it--it's a pretty neat option for us," said Marine Captain Christopher Bedzis, an HMH-464, Detachment A, pilot based at MCAS New River, N.C. "These helicopters have been a great asset to have here. Their aerial refueling capacity has allowed us to reach well over the horizon. That allowed for a longer range on Medical--and Veterinary--Civil Action Program (MEDCAP and VETCAP) missions."

The Galaxy's loadmaster, Air Force Master Sergeant Christopher Hellyar, said, "I've been doing this a long time, and these missions don't come up very often. It's something different. We're working with the other services here, and it's nice when we get an opportunity like this."

According to Hellyar there were two pallets of parts onboard the Galaxy and the helicopter. "The C-5 has a max load of two (CH-53s). It's the biggest cargo plane in the Air Force inventory, and can carry 270,000 lbs. of cargo."

Camp Lemonnier, located slightly southeast of Djibouti City, Djibouti, is the home of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).