Balad Air Base, Iraq: Oct. 13, 2004: Sgt. Eric Muse, flight engineer with Company H of the 171st Aviation Regiment, at Balad Air Base, Iraq, looks out the rear door before takeoff in the C-23 Sherpa. The plane is ideal for carrying mid-sized loads of cargo and passengers in Iraq. The speed and low flights mean that by the time the enemy sees the plane, it’s gone.

Read the original 2004 article on the Sherpas here.