casey

Thanks for sharing the images. With your permission, I will add them to the gallery. --Casey

After almost losing them, Keesler Air Force Base is celebrating the famed Flying Jennies’ return to full operational capability in Mississippi. Members of the 815th Airlift Squadron fly the large, cargo-carrying C-130J airplanes. The squadron is a tactical airlift unit in the Air Force Reserve’s 403rd Wing. The C-130J is not only “a hard-working and practical pack mule” that transports supplies for military operations, said an Air Force press release, it’s also like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Talk of deactivating the 73-person squadron and moving the 10 planes to a different base started in 2012, as part of a plan to cut defense spending. The squadron received a deactivation notice in November 2013, which meant a hiring freeze. The squadron was in limbo until talks revived again in early 2014, when the Air Force Reserve planned to decrease manpower 4.7 percent to fit the 2015 budget. Mississippi lawmakers Sens. Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker and Rep. Steven Palazzo fought the Flying Jennies’ removal. Cochran has long served on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and he now serves as chairman. Wicker has been a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services since 2008. The lawmakers said in a press release they pressed the Air Force to produce a thorough cost analysis and justification, and they used meetings, hearings, briefings and legislative actions to convince the Air Force to rescind the deactivation order and keep the unit in Mississippi. The Air Force abandoned attempts to deactivate and relocate the squadron in 2015, and the Flying Jennies began to restore its personnel and capabilities. On Friday, the Flying Jennies were deemed officially combat ready. “There have been a lot of challenges, and an enormous amount of work has been done by the squadron to get to this point,” squadron commander Lt. Col. Stuart Rubio said in the press release. He was assigned to the 403rd Wing in January 2016 to assist with rebuilding the unit, including recruiting new personnel and establishing their re-training program. Rubio compared rebuilding the squadron to a football team. He said the last year and a half has been similar to being in a summer training camp without that game to look forward to. But now the 815th team is ready for action. “The reason we train is so we can do the mission,” said Rubio. The squadron now uses C-130J Super Hercules, the newest of the C-130 fleet, said Staff Sgt. Tony DiStefano, 815th AS loadmaster. “This is the cargo-specific version of the aircraft,” he said in the press release. “It can carry quite a few tons of cargo. We can load Humvees and smaller vehicles into the back, and we can bring them anywhere around the world.” The C-130J can land on a dirt or gravel airstrip only 3,000 feet long. But if there isn’t a safe place to land, cargo can be airdropped to a location, Rubio said. On Friday, the Flying Jennies flew a symbolic, low-level tactical flight, where the crew practiced airdrops, flew with night vision goggles and performed other tasks to prepare for missions in a deployed location. “It’s a proud moment for us,” said DiStefano. “We’re fully operational again. We have full mission capabilities, and it’s a great place to be.” The three lawmakers also expressed their support. “Keeping the Flying Jennies at Keesler makes sense on operational and budget grounds. I commend the Air Force for standing up this unit ahead of schedule, and remain confident the Flying Jennies will continue to protect our national security interests,” said Cochran in a press release. “The 815th Airlift Squadron and its C-130Js have been a great asset to the Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base, and our Gulf Coast community. I am glad the Air Force has completed its plan to restore full combat mission capability to this distinguished unit and that the ‘Flying Jennies’ will continue to stay right where they belong — in Mississippi,” Wicker said. “Over the past several years, I have fought tirelessly to ensure the ‘Flying Jennies’ remained active and in South Mississippi. This report from the Air Force only further reestablishes what we already knew to be true, that keeping the squadron at Keesler Air Force Base is in fact the right decision,” Palazzo said. Source: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/military/article183548971.html Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/military/article183548971.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/military/article183548971.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/military/article183548971.html#storylink=cp y

I second that. Happy birthday Bob. Thanks for all that you do for the site and the C-130 community. -Casey

MUNIZ AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Puerto Rico – Despite the challenges of Hurricane Maria’s aftermath, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard continues to fly missions and delivered six pallets full of water bottles, diapers, electric generators, power saws and other donated supplies from the Washington D.C. area Oct. 5. “To be able to fly this mission for Puerto Rico – there are no words to describe the feeling,” said Major Jose Roman, who served as the aircraft commander on the C-130 Hercules aircraft for the mission. “This is what it is all about, to wear this uniform and help people in need.” MUNIZ AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Puerto Rico – Despite the challenges of Hurricane Maria’s aftermath, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard continues to fly missions and delivered six pallets full of water bottles, diapers, electric generators, power saws and other donated supplies from the Washington D.C. area Oct. 5. “To be able to fly this mission for Puerto Rico – there are no words to describe the feeling,” said Major Jose Roman, who served as the aircraft commander on the C-130 Hercules aircraft for the mission. “This is what it is all about, to wear this uniform and help people in need.” The C-130 and its crew all hailed from the PRANG’s 156th Airlift Wing. The donations came from two different groups – individual members of the District of Columbia National Guard and members of Unidos Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico United) in the D.C. area. The supplies were packaged by Airmen working in several units at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Many of the Airmen who volunteered to support the effort have family in Puerto Rico or were moved by reports of the struggles on the island territory since it was hit by the storm on Sept. 20. “We have family and friends there. The pain they are going through – we are trying to do something to ease the pain,” said Staff. Sgt. Angela Galban, who worked with Unidos Puerto Rico to make the collection. Galban and other Airmen at Andrews worked late into the night to ready the pallets and other supplies for shipment. “We’ve sent 24 pallets so far and have about 100 more still to go,” she said. “They have come from all over the community. The chamber of commerce has contributed and many local businesses. As long as we have supplies, we will continue to send them.” On board the aircraft, PRANG co-pilot 1st Lt. Greg Gutierrez said the diapers included in the shipment particularly impacted him. “I have two sons. Anyone who has raised children know how important it is to have diapers. It just hits you when you see people you don’t even know you, making these donations,” he said. Staff Sgt. Patrick Pagnotta, 11thg Aerial Port Squadron, was another of the Andrews Airmen helping in the collection and delivery process. “Several of my wife’s family members were left homeless from the storm. Her whole family was impacted in one way or the other. Making donations, working after hours – it’s the least we can do to help out,” he said. Master Sgt. Nancy Rivera, a personnel specialist with the 113th Airlift Wing of the D.C. Air National Guard, took military leave time and flew on the C-130 to Puerto Rico to help see the supplies through to their final destination. After an early evening arrival at Muniz, she planned to meet a cousin who lives on Puerto Rico to help make the final leg of the delivery. “This is personal to me,” she said. “My family was impacted and will be receiving some of these supplies.” The two pilots on the mission, Roman and Gutierrez, said the mission to deliver supplies to Puerto Rico represent a highlight of their military careers. “Tomorrow, when they have a mission for us, we’ll go. But this one, I will always remember,” Guttierrez said. View full article

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE – Hurricane relief efforts continued on the Dobbins flightline as forklifts and K-loaders loaded cases of water and ready-to-eat meals onto a C-130 Hercules Oct. 4. Aerial porters from squadrons at Dover, March, McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Westover worked together to load a Mansfield Air National Guard C-130 with a total of 23,390 pounds of food and water which will be transported to Puerto Rico and distributed to those in need. DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE – Hurricane relief efforts continued on the Dobbins flightline as forklifts and K-loaders loaded cases of water and ready-to-eat meals onto a C-130 Hercules Oct. 4. Aerial porters from squadrons at Dover, March, McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Westover worked together to load a Mansfield Air National Guard C-130 with a total of 23,390 pounds of food and water which will be transported to Puerto Rico and distributed to those in need. Working together with different units on this unique mission provided an opportunity for Airmen to gain new skills in the aerial port. "It's different because most of our annual training and drill weekends are simulated - the what if situations - always war time and not so much humanitarian missions,” said Staff Sgt. Kens Germain, an aerial porter from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. “I've learned how to be much more flexible and how to better adapt, overcome and improvise when need be.” Puerto Rico underwent devastating destruction after Hurricane Maria raged through, destroying much of the island’s infrastructure. Dobbins is currently serving as an installation support base for Hurricanes Irma and Maria relief operations in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, providing an air and logistics hub for relief efforts. Supporting these efforts often results in longer work hours and constantly changing plans, but the Airmen involved are happy to give back to the communities affected by the hurricanes. “(This mission) gives to me the moral drive to give 200% when doing my job because I know that we're helping people in need," Germain said. View full article

MANSFIELD, Ohio – The 179th Airlift Wing sends a fourth C-130H Hercules aircraft along with a team of six Airmen from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron (RHS) and a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) October 6, 2017 to aid in hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. With basic life needs such as water, food and shelter still needed, the 200th RHS has the unique abilities and capabilities to provide just that. Master Sgt. Isaac Strickler, a Power Production Supervisor with the 200th RHS said “We are taking the ROWPU to Puerto Rico, we are going down there to set it up to produce fresh drinking water for the local communities for the next several months.” MANSFIELD, Ohio – The 179th Airlift Wing sends a fourth C-130H Hercules aircraft along with a team of six Airmen from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron (RHS) and a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) October 6, 2017 to aid in hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. With basic life needs such as water, food and shelter still needed, the 200th RHS has the unique abilities and capabilities to provide just that. Master Sgt. Isaac Strickler, a Power Production Supervisor with the 200th RHS said “We are taking the ROWPU to Puerto Rico, we are going down there to set it up to produce fresh drinking water for the local communities for the next several months.” The ROWPU provides potable water from a variety of raw water sources such as wells, lakes, seas, lagoons, rivers, oceans and ice holes. The proper use of the ROWPU can provide purified drinking water for thousands of people. Technical Sgt. Brock Mowry, an Electrical Power Production craftsman with the 200th RHS said, “We will be able to purify up to 1,500 gallons per hour.” The treatment of water is necessary to prevent various waterborne diseases, such as typhoid and dysentery. Treatment processes must control certain chemical and physical characteristics of water, such as hardness or unpleasant taste. Hence, the function of a water treatment is not only to make water safe for human consumption but also to make water more palatable, less scale forming, and more suitable for use in laundries, boiler plants, and various other places. Staff Sgt. Heather Swinehart, a Water and Fuels Systems Maintenance journeyman with the 200th RHS said, “We will be able to sustain as many people needed, for as long as needed, as long as we have the chemicals available for the system.” These Ohio Air National Guard Units are leaning forward to provide support capabilities to Puerto Rico and other areas affected by hurricane Irma and Maria; as well as, aid in the recovery and relief efforts in the area. View full article

The C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, a squadron of which has been set up here, has the capability to play an important role in case of a military conflict, Air Vice Marshal Vikram Singh said here today. He was speaking after viewing a spectacular para diving exercise by seven para jumper instructors from one of the six aircraft of the C-130J Hercules squadron of the IAF at the Air Force Station Arjan Singh, earlier known as Panagarh air base. The C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, a squadron of which has been set up here, has the capability to play an important role in case of a military conflict, Air Vice Marshal Vikram Singh said here today. He was speaking after viewing a spectacular para diving exercise by seven para jumper instructors from one of the six aircraft of the C-130J Hercules squadron of the IAF at the Air Force Station Arjan Singh, earlier known as Panagarh air base. AFS Arjan Singh is the base for the second C-130J Super Hercules squadron after the one at Hindon AFS near Delhi. "The state-of-the-art aircraft with its tactical airlift and airdrop capabilities is a huge jump," Air Vice Marshal Singh, the Air officer Commanding, Advanced Headquarter, Eastern Air Command, said. "In any future conflict, it will play a very important role," he said. Asked whether the C-130J Super Hercules will play an important role in the case of a military conflict between India and China, Air Vice Marshal Singh said, "We don't buy aircraft with one particular adversary in mind, but given its capabilities it will certainly play an important role in such a scenario." "The closest border with China due north is Sikkim and it will take less than an hour for the C130J to reach from here," he said when asked about the time that it might take to put up an operation. India and China were engaged in a bitter border standoff over the construction of a road at Doklam earlier this year that lasted close to three months. "It is the first transport aircraft with a head-up display which is normally found in a fighter aircraft," the Air Vice Marshal said, ahead of the 84th Air Force Day on October 8. A head-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints, thus saving precious time. "It has infra-red sensor that gives the crew a monochromatic view in front and down below and thus helps the aircraft to fly very low and with accuracy at night," he said. View full article

The West Virginia National Guard has once again answered the Nation’s call for help this week by providing C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and crews, as well as additional ground support, for the response efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastation from Hurricane Maria. Approximately 32 Airmen deployed to locations in both Georgia and Puerto Rico to provide much needed assistance to the island The West Virginia National Guard has once again answered the Nation’s call for help this week by providing C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and crews, as well as additional ground support, for the response efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastation from Hurricane Maria. Approximately 32 Airmen deployed to locations in both Georgia and Puerto Rico to provide much needed assistance to the island. Members of the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, W.Va., deployed in late September with to provide critical airlift and airfield operations in both Georgia and Puerto Rico. To date, 167th AW crews have flown 14 sorties carrying 34 passengers and more than 180 short tons of cargo to the island delivering supplies to those in need. One WVANG member has integrated with other members of the response effort to assist with airfield management while other Airmen have been supporting air terminal operations in Savannah at the 165th Airlift Wing. The 167th AW air cargo specialists have helped manage the flow of resources including water, MREs, equipment and other necessary resources into and out of the large hub. “It was really an entire wing effort to support the ongoing recovery efforts,” said Col. Shaun Perkowski, commander of the 167th Airlift Wing. “Many of our personnel worked consecutive weekends to support operations in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. The value of airlift cannot be underestimated, but there is so much more which goes into planning and executing those missions including deploying our personnel, whether to help with cargo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania or Savannah, Georgia, which has proven to be vital to this effort. It cannot be understated that all of these efforts could not happen without the 167th’s spirit of service and volunteerism.“ The 130th Airlift Wing sent a crew of nine individuals Oct. 4, 2017, to pick up supplies in New York before offloading in Georgia and flying into Puerto Rico. Aircrew from the 130th AW flew four missions to pick up and deliver much needed supplies, equipment and military personnel to the area. Col. Randy Huffman, vice wing commander of the 130th Airlift Wing said, “The 130th Airlift Wing is proud to support the ongoing relief efforts for American citizens in desperate need in Puerto Rico. Our members train daily for this and the Air National Guard is unique in that we can provide support at a moment’s notice for humanitarian assistance. The West Virginia ANG will continue to be prepared to support this ongoing mission however and whenever we are asked.” These two units offer distinct airlift capabilities within the WVNG, providing airlift operations in two vastly different airframes at any time. “Because of these strategic assets in the West Virginia National Guard, Joint Base West Virginia is a crucial hub for domestic response operations for our Nation,” said Maj. Gen. James A. Hoyer, The Adjutant General of the WVNG. “We answer the call when needed and there’s no one better to provide assistance to those in a time of need than highly trained West Virginians.” Since September, the WVNG has supported hurricane relief efforts for Harvey, Irma and Maria in Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through U.S. Army engineer and U.S. Air Force airlift, airfield operations, and air cargo support. Overall, the 167th AW flew 59 sorties carrying more than 539 short tons of cargo since Hurricane Harvey struck the coast of Texas. The 130th AW flew four sorties carrying 6.59 short tons of cargo and 16 passengers for Hurricane Maria relief. View full article

National Warplane Museum Treasurer Donald Wilson worked for Kodak in Rochester in the late 1960s and became a big part of the Gambit project. He locked eyes on this Vietnam War C-130 plane and wanted to bring her home. These planes first flew in 1954. They are still being produced today; which makes them the longest military aircraft production ever. They are used by about 70 nations. The journey from Washington, DC to Geneseo is a long one when you are trying to bring home an important part of our Vietnam War history. National Warplane Museum Treasurer Donald Wilson worked for Kodak in Rochester in the late 1960s and became a big part of the Gambit project. He locked eyes on this Vietnam War C-130 plane and wanted to bring her home. These planes first flew in 1954. They are still being produced today; which makes them the longest military aircraft production ever. They are used by about 70 nations. These planes also have a rich part of Kodak history. The C-130s retrieved returning film capsules from the Gambit photo recognition satellites built in Rochester. The C-130s had many uses in the air force, such as airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, and aerial firefighting. The National Air Space Museum transferred ownership of the Lockheed C-130 to the National Warplane Museum on April 27. This plane is most famous for the role it played in saving lives during the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. It has sat at the Dulles International Airport for over 28 years. The amount it would take to relocate this plane to Geneseo is a heavy one. It will cost $200,000 to move it from one museum to another. “We need to get it in flyable condition, so that we can get it to Geneseo,” Wilson said. “We need volunteers to go down with us, and help us clean it up. It is too big to bring here any other way.” Wilson said it is really expensive to fly the C-130, so once it is here the plane will be on display with the other warplanes. The connection these planes have to the museum is that National Warplane Museum Trustee Martha Wadsworth flew a C-130 to Antarctica. “Kodak had a government contract to design and build orbit photos from the 1960s to 1970s,” Wilson said. “I worked for Kodak on the Gambit program.” Wilson added that when they applied for the C-130 they didn’t think they would get it. “We want to preserve it and protect it,” he said. “We will display it the way the museum wants us too.” This C-130 helped evacuate South Vietnamese citizens, and our soldiers to keep them from being prisoners at the end of the war. Hundreds of people piled into these planes to be taken to Singapore and rescued at the end of the Vietnam War. Wilson said that when they got down to take a look at the plane most of the cockpit was complete, which is a very rare thing in a plane that old. “People will usually steal things out of the plane,” he said. “This one is complete on the inside. It has pretty much everything. It is in great shape considering it has been outside for almost 30 years.” The C-130 should make its final landing at the National Warplane Museum in the Spring if all goes well. “This plane is an important part of history,” Wilson said. “People were saved in the last hours at Saigon. The last pilot to fly our plane was a South Vietnamese Air Force Pilot (Pham Quang Khiem) who rescued 30 members of his family. He was arrested when he landed in Singapore, and accused of hijacking the plane.” Wilson said that many museums only have these planes on display, and what makes National Warplane Museum unique is that they fly some of them. Eventually Wilson would like to bring the Gambit to the museum as well. It hasn’t been used since the 1970s, but it still has the best resolution photos of space. The name contest is one way Wilson is fundraising for the plane. You can choose between Freedom, Miss Saigon, Gambit, Hope, Camo, Martha, or pick your own idea. The donation with the name choice can be sent to National Warplane Museum at P.O. Box 185, Geneseo, NY, 14454 under Name This Airplane. Whatever the highest donation is will win the name of the plane. Wilson said they won’t give up until the plane is safely transported to Geneseo. C-130A 57-0460 c/n 3167 View full article

Sabena Technics has won the contract to train AIA, Clermont-Ferrand personnel who will be maintaining the French air force's C-130Hs. The independent MRO will be providing both technical and practical training and simulation services. The agreement has been valued at 1.5 million Eur. Sabena Technics has won the contract to train AIA, Clermont-Ferrand personnel who will be maintaining the French air force's C-130Hs. The independent MRO will be providing both technical and practical training and simulation services. The agreement has been valued at 1.5 million Eur. SIAé will be taking charge of all maintenance operations for the French air force's fourteen C-130Hs from 1st July 2018, following a decision made in November. MOC had been provided by the Portuguese industrialist OGMA since 2002, but its services had been judged unsatisfactory, given the low plane availability rate. This rate had fallen to 22.5% in 2016 and had been struggling to reach 28.8% in 2014, according to French Ministry of Defense data. SIAé will also be in charge of part of the fleet overhaul project, with the installation of modernization kits planned at the same time as maintenance inspections.v View full article

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – For nearly a month, the Missouri National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing has been proving its value as part of the operational reserve by performing more than 100 sorties in support of hurricane relief efforts. When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, Airmen from the St. Joseph-based 139th were among the first called to respond with their C-130 Hercules aircraft, said Maj. Gen. Steve Danner, the Adjutant General. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – For nearly a month, the Missouri National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing has been proving its value as part of the operational reserve by performing more than 100 sorties in support of hurricane relief efforts. When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, Airmen from the St. Joseph-based 139th were among the first called to respond with their C-130 Hercules aircraft, said Maj. Gen. Steve Danner, the Adjutant General. “Our Airmen were immediately ready to help their fellow Americans, first in Texas and Florida and now in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,” Danner said. “Bringing people and supplies to areas hit by these storms is a critical, immediate need, and the fact our 139th was one of the first called and one of the most relied upon speaks to the wing’s professionalism and effectiveness.” To date, the Missouri Airmen have flown about 140 sorties in support of the relief effort, airlifting hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo. Even the wing’s commander, Col. Ed Black, has flown a C-130 to the Caribbean islands. He was among the first to land on St. Thomas after Hurricane Maria. “We all understand that our role is a serious one,” Black said. “We were able to land and put the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron (Kentucky Air National Guard) on the ground to open the airfield (on St. Thomas). Opening the field is critical to starting the flow of relief efforts.” Black also discussed the personal impact of the mission. “Those hills used to be green - every tree was stripped clean,” Black said. “The St. Thomas you remember is no more. It leaves an impression. It compels us to volunteer to assist in any way possible.” Another pilot to fly into the region was Col. Timothy P. Murphy, the 139th Operations Group commander, who had the opportunity to directly interact with local residents. “The resiliency of the people has been overwhelming,” Murphy said. “You see devastation all around you, no power, no timeline, yet they are still positive and just so grateful for every little thing we do. It is the attitude of everyone in the region that we encountered.” Currently, the 139th has about 30 service members tasked to serve in the Virgin Islands. Their role is part of a larger mission being orchestrated by the joint-service 601st Air Operations Center, a component of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command. Coordinating the effort on the ground is Chief Master Sgt. Rhys L. Wilson, the air cargo superintendent for the 139th. He is currently serving as the senior chief air advisor for the Virgin Islands National Guard and is overseeing the aerial port operations in St. Croix, which includes nearly 50 Guard Airmen from multiple Air National Guard wings. “The people here truly appreciate us,” Wilson said. “I have received more hugs from total strangers.” Wilson said his Airmen are excited to be part of the mission. “The morale is high in the aerial port,” Wilson said. “They are working well downloading the airplanes and assisting the Army uploading trucks.” Additionally, the National Guard Bureau has set up an aerial port in Savannah, Georgia, to coordinate Air National Guard assets flying into the region. The missions range from troop transportation to the delivery of food, water, generators, medical supplies and other needed supplies. Impressively, even as the 139th supported hurricane relief operations, they continued normal business and contributed greatly to a state mission in Missouri and have deployed Airmen abroad. “I’m very impressed with what our Airmen have accomplished these past few weeks,” Danner said. “Even as they flew sorties to support fellow Americans affected by hurricanes, they mobilized dozens of members to support efforts for a recent mobilization to St. Louis and have deployed dozens of Airmen in support of overseas contingencies operations. Like the rest of the Missouri Guard, the 139th is a versatile, seasoned, ready force.” View full article

Members of the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, are providing maintenance to C-130J aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, in the midst of relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Maria. Members of the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, are providing maintenance to C-130J aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, in the midst of relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Maria. In addition to the 19th AMXS, the 61st Airlift Squadron and 41st Airlift Squadron aircrews were deployed to MacDill AFB to support aeromedical evacuations from of Puerto Rico in the wake of the hurricane. Since arriving at MacDill AFB, maintenance operations have been running 24/7. “We have been conducting inspections on aircraft every 72 hours to ensure they’re ready to go at a moment’s notice,” said Master Sgt. Michael Raver, 19 AMXS aircraft section chief. “Inspections entail looking over tires, fuel, systems and even preparing oxygen tanks for patients during aeromedical evacuation missions.” Thirty-two members of the 19th AMXS make up approximately 75 percent of the C-130 maintainer workforce at MacDill AFB. Little Rock Airmen work alongside members from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, to provide maintenance to three Little Rock AFB C-130s, two C-130s from Dyess AFB and Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. “Contributing to the aeromedical evacuation mission like this is very rewarding,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Frederick, 19th AMXS integrated avionics system specialist. “We’re making sure people have the resources to bring those affected by Hurricane Maria to safety and get the medical attention they need.” View full article