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| Abdullah wrote - "1979 - USO show
departing from Sinop airport. The man in the white jacket is Maj. Echols, the pilot and a good friend of mine." |
-THE ONE AND ONLY-
TUSLOG Detachment Four is a unique organization in itself. However within the detachment one section is an outstanding example of exactly how unique the organization is. The One and Only is Sinop Army Airfield and include men and women who work so diligently to accomplish the aviation mission.
In order to get mental picture of the geographical location of Detachment Four, a brief description of the area will help the set the stage. The Detachment is located on the northernmost peninsula of the Turkish Black Sea and is approximately 320 air miles east of Istanbul and 80 miles west of Samsun, Turkey. The post is actually located on a 700 foot hill which sits on the point of the peninsula and overlooks the unique and historic city of Sinop. The installation is commonly referred to as "THE HILL" which overlooks a picturesque view of the quaint fishing city of Sinop and has been described as having the atmosphere and setting of a small college campus.
Sinop Army Airfield (SAAF) is located seven miles west of installation, is \'bc mile from the sandy beaches of the Black Sea with an elevation of four feet. A stone monument pillar which commemorates the first non-stop flight from Moscow to Sinop on April 21, 1934 helps to reveal the earlier years when the location was first used as airstrip. Sinop Army Airfield is the one and only Ai rfield solely under the connnand of HQ, INSCOM and is the only Airfield in Turkey where pure US Military operations are conducted. The Airfield was originally constructed in December 1961 with an asphalt east-west oriented runway measuring 2476 feet by 75 feet. During this time frame, Detachment Four's Aviation mission was accomplished by the U-6 Beaver and U-l Otter Aircraft. In 1968 Detachment Four's Aviation section was appropriately named \ldblquote Esek Airlines" when an Otter landed at the airfield with a baby esek (pronounced a-shack) on board to become unit's mascot. The esek ( Turkish for donkey) is a highly regarded animal in this part of the world. To the Turkish people the esek is a very reliable, hard working animal which assists them in obtaining basic sta ples to sustain life, So on this day in 1969, Detachment Four's Aviation section was given a new flame by the Turkish people who witnessed the baby esek named Sam deplane from the Otter. Esek Airlines is now known throughout Turkey, Middle East, and part of Europe. The name Esek airline is so renowned among the Turkish people that a stranded American female tourist in Istanbul was advise to call Sinop for reservation. When the lady questioned one of the pilots if he was president of Esek Airlines and what her possibili\-ties for booking a reservation, the pilot politely explained that Esek Airlines was for US Military personnel only, and he was sorry could not be of any assistance.
During the next seven years Sam lived a good life and roamed freely in the grassy infields of the airfield. He was loved by everyone who served a tour in Sinop. During this time; In return Sam proved to be dedicated friend and mascot the Esek Airlines. In July 1976 he died but his memories are carried on by the marble headstone in f ront of the operations building which reads "Sam Best Mascot a Section Could Ever Have" If Sam were alive today, he would be proud of the men and women who have carried on the outstanding tradition of Esek Airlines. These same men and women are the ones who support the unique and varied aviation mission of Detachment Four. Esek Airlines is the one and only airline which serves the men and women soldiers of INSCOM who are stationed in Sinop.
The aviation mission is accomplished by four pilots, nine crew chief/maintenance personnel, two airfield operations personnel, and one Beech Aircraft Technical Representative. Aircraft assigned to the unit include one C-12A which was the first and only aircraft of its type assigned to INSCOM. And one U-21A which is the only one in the Middle East. Detachment Four is also fortunate to have the one and only US Army Flight Surgeon in Turkey to provide medical care for those personnel on flight status. Emergency medical evacuation is another unique mission because no other US Army Aviation unit is presently utilizing the C-12A aircraft in this capacity. The US Army aviation team at SAAF is complimented by Turkish Nationals who are viable part of this team and who provide transportation and crash/ fire rescue service. Their service totals over 50 years of aviation experience at SAAF.
In 1977 a new 5000 foot concrete runway was constructed to better facilitate the aviation missions of Esek Airlines. The new runway also allows US Air Force C-130 aircraft to re-supply Detachment Four. The first C-130 landing at SAAF was accomplished by a special mission from the United States on July 25, 1978. Normal C-130 re-supply missions from Incirlik, Turkey started on August 28, 1978 and have since continued twice weekly.
During the calendar year of 1979, the men and women of Esek Airlines and the medevac team have been credited with saving four INSCOM soldier's lives and four Turkish National's lives while performing emergency medical evacuation missions. In addition the unit has flown over 900 accident-free and incident free hours while providing safe, courteous air service for almost 2,000 personnel and moving over 85,000 pounds of mail and cargo. At the end of each work day, the men and women of Detachment Four eagerly await the arrival of Esek Airlines in hopes of receiving a letter or package from home.
If you are ever assigned to Detachment Four during your military service, Esek Airlines will be there to serve you proudly with fast, safe, courteous air transportation, to medevac you if you became ill, and possibly to cheer your spirits with a letter or "goodie" package from home.
Eugene W. Echols Maj. INF. Cdr. Sinop, Army Airfield