JB MDL commemorate KC-10 and C-17 milestones

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Kimberly Lalley
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing publlic affaris
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE DIX LAKEHURST --         
        On October 8th, the Freedom Wing and the Can-Do Wing, along with honorary commanders and special guests, commemorated the 20th and 10th year anniversaries of the basing of KC-10 and C-17 aircraft at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. 
        Guest Speaker, Jim Saxton, recalled when he was a newly elected Representative and made his first visit to what was then McGuire Air Force Base.  He remembers the C-17 before it was here and was at the ceremony welcoming the C-17 Spirit of NJ to the base.  He acknowledged it as the "revolutionary aircraft of their time." 
        Master of Ceremonies, Chief Master Sergeant William Gross, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was on board the first KC-10 that landed 20 years ago.  It's the same aircraft that was used as a static display for the ceremony.  He was the primary crew chief for 10 years from 1987 to 1997.  He said has fond memories flying all over the world with her to Germany, for the fall of the Berlin Wall, to Hawaii for the 50th anniversary of World War II and to Russia for the 15th anniversary of the Cold War.  Chief Gross states the plane holds a very special place in his heart and he thanked "all the thousands of maintenance professionals that have kept her and the rest of the KC-10 fleet flying safely and effectively... without your dedication, professionalism and skills, we would not be standing here today."  
        Congressman Jon Runyan, who was not able to attend, sent a letter of support saluting the Airmen and civilians who work together to ensure the C-17s and KC-10s are able to fulfill their critical air mobility mission.  Whether they are aircrew members from the Air Force Reserve and active-duty Air Force, who fly these airplanes, or those responsible for working to load, launch, recover and fix them, all members of the team are vital to mission readiness. 
        The mission of the KC-10 is to continually sustain a trans-Atlantic refueling bridge, which speeds along the movement of aircraft to Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.  Overseas, the KC-10 refuels aircraft fighting terrorist cells, and is also executing an aeromedical mission around the world. 
        Col Michael J. Underkofler, 514th Air Mobility Wing Commander, provided a history lesson of "Big Sexy," which cruises at 520 knots at 38,000 feet.  "From the first day the aircraft were assigned here in 1994, the Freedom and Can-Do Wings have flown, maintained, and supported the aircraft together, side by side.  It started with Operation Uphold Democracy, the effort to remove a repressive regime in Haiti, and continued with combat operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia.
        On 9-11 two McGuire KC-10 aircraft took off at 9:02 a.m. for a local training mission but were soon directed to Warning Area 107 for a hookup with F-15s from Langley.  Later our KC-10s established an orbit over Washington DC and were vital to refueling command and control, and fighter aircraft that directed operations along the eastern seaboard.  There were many other missions which were instrumental to securing our airspace and protecting Americans."
        During the aircraft's history here, almost 600,000 hours have been flown by the two wings.  More than three billion pounds of gas roughly 500 million gallons have been offloaded safely. 
        Col John Price, 305th Wing Commander, commemorated the C-17, which was first built twenty-three years ago but came to McGuire September 24, 2004.  Wing Commanders from the Freedom Wing and Can Do Wing flew the aircraft together from Long Beach, CA to McGuire AFB, NJ.  Missions performed by the C-17 routinely deliver vitally-important supplies and personnel for combat, routine and humanitarian missions around the world, and also supports the global movement of the President and the Vice President of the United States.  The C-17's aeromedical evacuation mission transporting injured Americans for decisive medical care is crucial and today C-17s are flying forces to Africa to combat the spread of the Ebola virus. 
        Flying between continents and landing on austere fields the aircraft is a true revolution, crossing oceans and delivering goods on a short dirt strip.  The novelty and the capability of the $202 Million beauty has not lost its luster with it novelty and capability.  The Bully Beef Express and 732d Rams constant velocity ensures rapid global mobility, he said. 
        The 514th and 305th Wings worked jointly from the day these mission critical aircraft arrived and continue to fuel the fight and deliver hope around the world.