MANSFIELD, Ohio — Airmen from the 179th Airlift Wing made Air National Guard history July 26, 2011, by deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the first time with the C-27J Spartan, one of the Air Force's newest aircraft.
This joint mission is being conducted with aircrew from the 164th Airlift Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 179th Airlift Wing, and Soldiers from the Oklahoma and Georgia National Guard. They will be working in conjunction with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, from Fort Campbell, Ky., in direct support of the Army for airlift and airdrop operations.
"The 164th Airlift Squadron is the first operational unit to convert to the C-27J and it has been the hard work of the 164th Airlift Squadron, 179th Airlift Wing, National Guard Bureau, L-3 Communications, and Alenia to make this deployment happen," said Lt. Col. Darren Hamilton, 164th Airlift Squadron commander.
The 179th AW is also making history with a nine-month overseas rotation, as opposed to the typical four-to-six-month Air National Guard deployment schedule. The Mansfield unit deployed in 2009 with the C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft to lay the groundwork for this current joint operations deployment, in direct support of the Army's time-sensitive missions.
Airmen from the 179th AW have been training for this deployment since the conversion from the C-130 Hercules to the new C-27J Spartan last year. Air Force and Army aircrew members have undergone 12 weeks of training at Warner Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and an additional 120 days of joint operations seasonal training in Mansfield to become fully mission qualified on the new aircraft.
"I could not be more proud of the folks around the country and the agencies and organizations that assisted with getting these planes out the door," said Col. Gary McCue, 179th Airlift Wing commander.
Additional aircrew members are currently undergoing training to become mission qualified on the remaining C-27J Spartan aircraft for state and federal missions, including overseas operations.
The C-27J Spartan is a twin turboprop aircraft with short takeoff and landing capabilities, which can provide access to airstrips otherwise unreachable by fixed-wing aircraft.
The 179th AW was the first unit in the Air Force to receive this new aircraft. |
