Flying in Iraq with 'Supermen'
It was supposed to be a regular military helicopter ride back to Baghdad.
The two Blackhawks looked fairly ordinary as they swooped down to land at a US base north of the capital where I had spent the past few days.
At first glance, the crews onboard were also fairly non-descript, dressed in normal army fatigues or beige, all-in-one, pilot jumpsuits.
There was no sense of any special powers as I clamboured onboard one of the aircraft and it took off. Even as we cruised over fields and small villages, bouncing slightly in the wind, there was no hint of superhuman-ness.
It was only when we touched down at an even bigger base that the truth emerged: I was being carted around by a crew of Supermen.
Literally.
The Louisiana-based 1-244 Assault Helicopter Battalion is made up of superheroes.
A-Company, which I was with, is named after Superman, while B-Company is Batman. I am not too sure which comic book hero is associated with C-Company, but D-Company is dedicated to Ironman.
Specialist Cordell Mallory, 24, a gunner on my helicopter, has been a ‘Superman’ for six months.
“It feels awesome,” he said. Asked where his red cape was, however, Specialist Mallory admitted: “I left it back home.”
 The ‘S’ logo scrawled across the real Superman’s chest is emblazoned on walls around A-Company’s headquarters at the Balad military base.
There is also an action picture of Clarke Kent in his Superman garb painted on a concrete slab outside a large dining hall.
Next to Superman is a painting of Batman, looking similarly tough.
Reservist pilot Major Randel Gillette, 43, is an honourary Superman.
He said he enjoys his job, piloting a Blackhawk across the country, while joking that he felt “intimidated” being surrounded by so many superheroes.
Demonstrating that even Supermen have to stop for food, the crew and their one passenger (me) headed to the dining hall for lunch before returning to the helicopters.
The guys, having discovered that I am from Britain, asked if I would read out a take-off command over the radio to the control tower in my best Queen’s English.
Surrounded by Supermen, I could hardly say no.
The conversation, which sounded as though it belonged in a comic book, went something like this:
Me: [call sign]. This is [call sign].
Control Tower: [call sign]. This is [call sign].
Me: [call sign] is [call sign]. Up, up and away. Cheerio.
Control Tower: [Slight pause] Er, roger…
[Picture 1: Superman badge on back of helmet worn by Specialist Cordell Mallory, 24;
Picture 2: Warrant Officer One Kelly Gee, 25, poses with the real Superman;
Picture 3: Painting of Batman;
Picture 4: The 'Supermen', left to right, Major Randel Gillette, 43, Specialist Mallory, Chief Warrant Officer Gary Richardson, 34, and Warrant Officer One Gee.]
Blog posted by Deborah Haynes, The Times
November 06, 2008
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