News

Reserve crew tapped to fly Hurricane Rita support mission

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing
The first McChord crew out of the gate in support of Hurricane Rita is from the Air Force Reserve’s 313th Airlift Squadron here. 

The Reservists will take off in a C-17 Globemaster III at about 3:30 p.m., today, heading to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to pick up 400 patient litters and 800 cargo straps, before heading to Beaumont, Texas where the equipment will be pre-positioned for possible use in evacuating non-ambulatory patients. 

“We appreciate being a part of the effort to ensure the safety of Americans put at risk by this storm,” said Maj. Keith Franke, an Air Force Reserve pilot who led a C-17 aircrew just a few days ago transporting relief supplies to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and New Orleans for victims of Hurricane Katrina. “We have a huge hauling capacity with this aircraft so we, along with other airlift units, can help make sure that what’s needed most gets to where it will be most useful.” 

Both the Reserve 446th Airlift Wing and active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing here have crews on standby, ready to leave when the call for assistance comes through command authorities. 

During the first week following Hurricane Katrina, Team McChord evacuated more than 1,100 people from New Orleans and delivered more than 550 tons of equipment, water, food and medical supplies.