CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C., - Air transportation specialists with the 437th Aerial Port Squadron work together to load a pallet of food onto a McChord AFB C-17 on the Charleston flightline Jan. 18. The pallet of food was just one part of a 116,000 pound shipment of food and water airlifted to aid victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Reserve Airmen join in relief operations for Haiti

Published Jan. 19, 2010
By Sandra Pishner and Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs & 62nd AW/PA

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The role of McChord Airmen in Haiti relief operations continued to grow Jan. 18 with the dispatch of a third C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The aircraft departed for Charleston AFB, S.C., to take on bottled water for immediate transport into Haiti's Toussaint L' Ouverture International Airport. Airmen were then to airlift evacuees back to the United States.

Two additional aircrews were transported aboard the C-17. The Airman will fly additional C-17s from Charleston in support of ongoing relief operations. Each augmented aircrew includes an aircraft commander, two pilots and two loadmasters.

Nine Reserve aircrews are in the system, with Lt. Col. Hans Bley, 728th Airlift Squadron, leading an all Reserve crew, and Capt. Patrick Hancock, also with the 728th AS, leading a crew mix of active-duty and Reserve Airmen.

Jan. 17, McChord Airmen launched two C-17s to pick up specialized teams and relief supplies separately from Langley AFB, Va., and Pope AFB, N.C. and fly them to Haiti.

"The call has gone out for volunteers in a variety of support areas, to include our medical Reservists and aerial porters," said Col. William Flanigan, 446th Airlift Wing commander. "There's never any shortage of volunteers when you call on the Air Force Reserve, and particularly the 446th Airlift Wing. Tell us what you need, and we'll do our best to make it happen."

Three joint inspectors from the 86th Aerial Port are departing Friday to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to support airlift operations for Haiti relief efforts.

"The United States Air Force is in dedicated, close coordination with other U.S. government agencies and international partners to ensure necessary relief supplies, equipment and personnel get where they are most needed in Haiti," said Col. Kevin J. Kilb, 62nd Airlift Wing commander.

"McChord Airmen are proud to be part of this humanitarian effort," said Colonel Kilb. "Our ability to conduct these operations is due to the partnership and expertise of both the Active duty and Reserve Airmen here at McChord."

Aircraft are flown by active duty Air Mobility Command Airmen and Air Force Reserve Command Airmen, respectively, of the 62nd AW and 446th AW here.

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