Ohio Reserve C-17s complete 9th Hurricane Sandy relief mission

by Lt Col Cynthia Harris
445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

11/7/2012 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Airmen from the 445th Airlift Wing here completed their ninth Hurricane Sandy relief mission Nov. 7, transporting four heavy-duty off road pickup trucks and two trailers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst N.J.

"The C-17 is the perfect cargo aircraft for this type of mission. We are able to quickly reconfigure to accommodate almost any type of cargo, fly to where that cargo is and get it to where it needs to be," said Capt Aaron Port, C-17 pilot. "We are happy to aid in providing relief to those areas affected by Hurricane Sandy."

A total force team of active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command Airmen are working side-by-side with federal, state, and local mission partners to ease suffering and assist in the Nation's recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

The unit began its support of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts when they departed Wright-Patterson AFB Nov. 1 to transport 26 Southern California Edison utility company workers and five utility vehicles from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif. to Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. The passengers and cargo helped to restore power to the affected region.

The 445th Airlift Wing responded within hours of being tasked by the Force Generation Center to support Hurricane Sandy. On Tuesday, Oct. 30, the Force Generation Center and Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. asked the 445th Airlift Wing if crews were available to support Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts. The morning of Nov. 1, 445th aircrews were alerted and flew to March ARB that evening.

"The men and women of the 445th stand ready to assist when and where needed. We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to serve those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our Airmen were ready within a moment's notice to transport much needed personnel and equipment. I'm glad we're able to make a difference," said Col. Michael Major, 445th Airlift Wing vice commander.

Before dawn the morning of Nov. 2, another C-17 from the 445th Airlift Wing departed Wright-Patterson AFB for Phoenix, Ariz. to pick up cargo for transport to Stewart ANG Base, N.Y. This mission transported 15 passengers, three utility trucks and a water pump truck.

The unit has performed a total of nine missions from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7. Cargo and personnel were transported from various bases on the West Coast to Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y., Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and John F. Kennedy International Airport, N.Y.

"For Mobility Airmen, it is simple: we are here to answer the call when it comes, whether across the globe or here at home," said Gen. Ray Johns, Jr., commander, Air Mobility Command. "In this critical time we stand ready to meet the needs of our nation and fellow Americans."