Army Chinook flew in a bridge to secure Indian Mountain radar site's only water line

The Defense Logistics Agency's Troop Support office at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson coordinated an Army airlift of an aluminum bridge to the Indian Mountain Long-Range Radar Site, according to an Oct. 6 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson story. The bridge, installed in July, helped repair and secure the site's sole water line.

That line is the facility's only means of fire suppression and sanitation, according to an Air National Guard account. The new bridge replaced a failing wooden one that supported the line. Indian Mountain is one of 15 Alaska radar sites providing security from foreign and domestic airborne threats.

A CH-47 Chinook from the 52nd Aviation Regiment flew the bridge across the river on June 29 under Operation 26-02 Indian Mountain, according to a photo caption. A Marine Corps Helicopter Support Team rigged the load. A detachment of 10 Airmen from the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Civil Engineer Squadron repaired the bridge footings.

The Air National Guard said the 13-day deployment saved the Air Force more than $1.6 million. Its crews completed three projects for about $75,000: the bridge, a 4,300-foot fuel pipeline repair and riverbank stabilization. Initial commercial bids for the same work totaled $1.74 million.

Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Wickham leads the Alaska office, which handles about $10 million in sales a year.