R4H,
welcome ! Thank you for the very interesting airdrop stories. I am sure dragartist can add something to them from his perspective. Would really like to see your pics if they can be rescued. When I did the HEART job one of the Boscombe Down chapa claimed that the Herc had only ever been cleared for double ULA, not triple. I produced some pics at the next meeting to prove we did indeed do triple ULLA.
In respect of aircrew invovlement when the HEART went to Abbey Wood to ask about the 'J' we were told that the sole RAF presence at Lockheeds was a pilot and an engineering officer. This for an a/c for which we were to be the launch customer ! When I asked why no loadmaster involvement the reply was cost !