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              loaded they used more fuel than anticipated. At Lajes, the unit learned that
              the next stop would be Royal Air Force (RAF) Alconbury, England.12

              	Personnel at Alconbury were surprised to have 16 C-1 30s and some
              400 personnel arrive at the base with just 24-hours notice. They were able,
              nonetheless, to make space on the ramp available for the aircraft and
              arrange temporary quarters for all personnel. The stay proved to be longer
              than expected, however, as approval to depart for the Gulf was delayed.13

              	Confusion continued over the actual deployment site for the 94th
              even after arrival at Alconbury. Several commands were involved with the
              coordination process and no one seemed able to sort it out. Waiting day
              after day for orders that never came, with nothing to do, inflicted a heavy
              toll on everyone's morale, although some of the time was put to good use
              in briefing aircrews, training, and inspecting equipment, mobility kits, and
              chemical warfare ensembles.14

                                                                     .
              	On 24 August the MAC Crisis Action Team (CAT) asked the United
              States Central Command (CENTCOM) CAT for permission to move the unit
              from Alconbury to Cairo West and also move three aircraft and selected
              personnel on to Sharjah as soon as possible. Finally, one week after the
              arrival at Alconbury, three aircraft and 130 people were approved for
              deployment to Sharjah. The other personnel and aircraft remained at
              Alconbury.15

              	Personnel chosen to go on to Sharjah were selected from the 400
              personnel as essential to setting up and operating a bare base C-130 airlift
              operation. A massive unloading of most of the 16 aircraft and a reloading
              of the three aircraft selected to go then had to be undertaken before
              departure. Each of the five units had been tasked to provide different kinds
              of equipment and supplies from their home stations. Since only three
              aircraft were departing for Sharjah, all of the essential equipment and



--------------------------
                12 Blair Intvw; Willis Intvw.

                13 Ltr, 94 TAW/DO to 94 TAW/CC, "After Action Report, Desert Shield,"
              
	   11 Jan 91.
        
	   14 Ibid.

                15 Blair Intvw.

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