Giant squids land on Dover AFB

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda and Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 512 and 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A 326th Airlift Squadron aircrew landed today at Dover Air Force Base, Del., with two giant squids in its cargo compartment.

The two sea creatures were transported in a C-17 from Europe and will be delivered to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. The female preserved specimen will become the largest on display in the United States. She measures 24 and a half feet long, and the male measures 9 feet long.

"My daughter is going to think I am the coolest dad ever," said Master Sgt. Phillip Vicker, a 326th AS loadmaster whose mission was to load and balance all of the cargo, including the squids, onto the aircraft.

Even though none of the aircrew or Space-A passengers could physically see the squids, Sergeant Vicker said everyone could still see the long box, labeled with 'giant squids' stickers.

"They were really pumped up about it; they kept asking 'are those really squids in there,'" he said. "Even we didn't believe it, when we first saw it on the cargo manifest."

The shipping container for the pair of squids was not as long as the actual bodies inside.

The project manager in Exhibits at the Smithsonian, Elizabeth Musteen, said this was because the specimens' arms and tentacles were folded over top of their mantles.

However, when on display, the female will be fully expanded horizontally, and the male will be encased in a vertical state, she added.

"These specimens, brought up in deep sea fishing nets off the coast of northern Spain, are expected to be a main attraction," said Mrs. Musteen.

The giant squids will make their debut to the public on Sept. 27, when the Smithsonian opens its new Sant Ocean Hall, an exhibition area designed to support ocean education.

"I can't wait to take the family to the display," said Maj. Mark Chagaris, one of the C-17 pilots which brought the deep ocean dweller to the United States. "I can say, 'you're daddy helped bring that over here.'"

After being unloaded from Dover's C-17, four 436th Aerial Port Squadron Airmen prepared the squids for transport to the Smithsonian by truck.

"There's nothing we can't handle," said Airman 1st Class David Strong, one of the four ramp services specialists who moved the ten-tentacled creatures. "If there's anything that needs to be shipped, we take care of it. 

Dover's Porters work for the world's largest aerial port, and are trained to load or unload cargo weighing five to two million pounds and many have experience moving odd objects.

Senior Airman Michael Goicoechea, a ramp services specialist who helped move the giant squid, said he has moved cargo ranging from submarines and Strykers to helicopters and hummers.

"I was stationed previously at Kadena Air Base, Japan," he said. "But, I've moved more cargo working at Dover AFB in five months than my two years in Kadena, and this is my first squid!"

While not trained to receive every single package, Porters here deal with all kinds of unexpected cargo, such as the squids.

"That is why our job is never boring," said Tech Sgt. Steven Braddick, ramp services specialist shift supervisor who has seen Air Force jets transport dolphins and parts for the space shuttle. "We're always learning and training throughout our career field because who knows what else we'll be loading."