VR-57 Conquistadors Provide Support for Hurricane Isaac Relief Efforts

By Lt. j. g. Wesley Holzapfel, Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Va. (NNS) -- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57 at Naval Air Station Oceana provided support for Hurricane Isaac relief efforts, Aug. 29.

A crew of the VR-57 'Conquistadors,' with their C-40A Clipper, quickly, and in the middle of their own mission, jumped into the support for Hurricane Isaac relief efforts by transporting a group of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 aircrew and maintenance personnel from Norfolk to Dothan Regional Airport, in Alabama. This last-minute transport gave HSC-9 some much-needed manpower to begin preparations for the NORTHCOM-tasked Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief missions along the Gulf Coast.

The Conquistador crew was preparing to return to its home base at Naval Air Station North Island, in San Diego, when the Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO) scheduled the support.

"NALO and the VR-57 crew easily coordinated the no-notice mission which allowed for same-day execution and completion," said Cmdr. Tim Rascoll, transport aircraft requirements officer for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

VR-57 is one of 15 squadrons within Fleet Logistics Support Wing (FLSW) headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. FLSW, the largest functioning air wing in the Navy, was established to operate Navy-unique essential airlift aircraft on a worldwide basis. Its mission is to provide responsive, flexible, and rapid deployable air logistics support.