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  • Aircraft assigned to the 403rd Wing's two flying squadrons now have a new purpose-built wash system designed specifically for the unit and its missions. In both airlift and weather reconnaissance missions, the 815th Airlift Squadron and 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, fly many hours over the Gulf of Mexico. Salt and moisture could lead to corrosion without a system for keeping the aircraft clean. The new wash blasts each J-model with 2,000 gallons of water per minute, emitting 150 pounds of pressure from each of its 40 nozzles.

    Bird Bath

  • Businessman Brings Opportunity to Gulf Coast

    Alex Parker, a WWII veteran and multimillionaire New Yorker, was busy negotiating the final details of contributing his second WWII memorial to Arlington National Cemetery when Hurricane Katrina swept through and devastated the Gulf Coast. Mr. Parker’s focus immediately shifted from building memorials to finding ways to create job opportunities for
  • Maj. Gen. Michael Gould, commander, 2nd Air Force, delivered this C-130J-30 to Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing. This delivery marked the first C-130J delivered in 2006. It is the fifth of eight C-130J-30s received to date by the 815th Airlift Squadron, known as the Flying Jennies. The 815th is AFRC's only C-130J combat delivery squadron.

    403rd Wing Receives First C-130J Super Hercules For 2006

    The 403rd Wing, received its first C-130J-30 airlifter for 2006. The aircraft was flown from Marietta Ga. to Keesler where it is now assigned to the 403rd Wing's 815th Airlift Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command's only C-130J combat delivery squadron. Flying the aircraft to Keesler was Maj. Gen. Michael Gould, commander of the 2nd Air Force. Gould

  • Disaster Diaries: NCO Goes Distance to Provide Assistance

    His commander calls him a “quiet hero.”  Tech. Sgt. Sonny Parker, a network infrastructure technician with the 403rd Communications Flight, has earned the gratitude of many for his actions in the chaotic days following Hurricane Katrina. It all began the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Biloxi area. As Sergeant Parker sat in traffic on a
  • The new Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen fits onto one C-130, 463L load pallet. It can be operated by as few as four Airmen and takes eight Airmen four hours to set up and two additional hours to begin service for up to 550 troops in a two-hour period.

    Kitchen in a Box

    Napoleon once said an army marches on its stomach. That’s the basic idea behind the Air Force’s newest way to provide hot meals to troops in the field, the Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen. Five members of the 403rd Services Flight were recently trained on the SPEK at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. They were part of a group of 22 Reservists who
  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Senior Master Sgt. Richard Rivard taxis the final WC-130H aircraft out on the runway on its way to Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa. Aircraft No. 980 was the last H-model aircraft to depart the 403rd Wing after its complete conversion to the WC-130J. Sergeant Rivard has served more than 20 years as a crew chief, mostly servicing H-models. He is an air reserve technician with the 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. J. Justin Pearce)

    Last WC-130H Departs Keesler

    The last of a generation of aircraft lifted gently off the runway here Jan. 12. “This is the end of an era. For years the H-model performed magnificently meeting the needs of the weather mission; however, it is time to move on,” said Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, commander of the 403rd Wing. “The increased performance and the advanced avionics of the
  • Airman 1st Class Joshua Ladner a firefighter with the 403rd CES Fire Department, uses a fog stream nozzle while performing hydraulic ventilation as part of his three-level training.

    Clearing the Smoke

    On a perfectly beautiful warm fall afternoon, a group of firefighters, suited up with layers of extremely hot protective clothing, forcefully burst into a hot, unventilated smoke consumed building, on a mission to clear the smoke. This may sound uncomfortable, daring and even a bit crazy, but it’s just a typical day of training for the firefighters
  • Master Sgt. David Champagne, 41st Aerial Port Squadron and Master Sgt. Wes Askew, 97th Air Mobility Wing, chain down a fire truck in a C-5 at Gulfport National Guard Base, Miss. for return to Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas. The firetruck was airlifted to to Biloxi as part of the Air Force's post-Hurricane Katrina response.

    Disaster Diaries: Aerial Porters Glad to Have Work

    Despite the devastating blows from Hurricane Katrina, Reservists of the 41st Aerial Port Squadron, including those who lost everything, continued their mission without a snag. Around mid-September, seven people from 41st APS teamed with active duty at Keesler to help with Coast wide hurricane relief. Three of these seven troops had lost
  • Senior Airman Angela Wuest, an aerospace propulsion technician with the 403rd Maintenance Squadrons engine shop, prepares a C-130H model propeller for shipment to another unit. The 403rd Wing has officially transitioned to the C-130J-30 and WC-130J. All of the H-models have been or will soon be re-allocated to other units along with the inventory of spare parts.

    Out with the Old

  • Like dermatologists for aircraft, troops from the 403rd fabrication shop diagnose and repair problems on the skin, or exterior, of the 403rd Wing's fleet of C-130s. The team routinely applies touch-up paint to aircraft to keep it protected.

    Skin Doctors

    Like dermatologists for aircraft, troops from the fabrication shop diagnose and repair problems on the skin, or exterior, of the wing’s fleet of C-130s. As any doctor knows, the work sometimes gets messy. The team routinely applies touchup paint to aircraft to keep it protected. “It’s just like wearing a raincoat or sunscreen. Paint offers overall
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