Flying Jennies Deploy to Support Global War on Terror

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  It was dark and frigid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this morning as Citizen Airmen began arriving at the Keesler Deployment Facility ready to deploy in support of the Global War on Terror.

Aircrews from the Air Force Reserve's 815th Airlift Squadron joined maintainers from the 403rd Maintenance Group and personnel from several support functions including Communications, Intelligence and others for the unit's second combat mission in Southwest Asia.

"Four years ago, we completed a record-setting event by deploying the J-model in combat and now we are again called upon to serve our nation by taking the battle-proven C-130J back to the desert - we are excited," said Col. Jay Jensen, commander, 403rd Operations Group.

The 815th Flying Jennies return to the desert after establishing the full-time fighting capability four years ago and will be joining active duty units from bases such as Little Rock Air Force Base to continue showing the combat capabilities of the J-model. In December 2004, Citizen Airmen of the 815th teamed up with Air National Guardsmen from Rhode Island also flying the C-130J-30 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These units flew many missions to Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries marking the first time the U.S. Air Force employed the J-model in combat. Later that year, the squadron logged another first, circumnavigating the globe in a C-130J while supporting Aero India, one of the largest aviation trade shows in the world.

The "Flying Jennies" provide combat-multiplying capabilities to resupply forces, improve combatant commanders' airlift requirements and employment operations within the combat zone or forward areas, and when requested, provide aeromedical evacuation and augment strategic airlift forces.

The first aircraft to take off this morning was the "Spirit of Biloxi, a Super Hercules dedicated to the city of Biloxi in 2006 in honor of the partnership between the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing and the community.

"The Gulf Coast is our home; every time the J-model flies a mission or lands on a narrow dirt airstrip in a foreign land, the men and women of the 403rd Wing carry with them the support of the people of the Gulf Coast," said Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, commander, 403rd Wing.

The 403rd Wing will soon celebrate flying more than 35,000 hours in the J-model over the past nine years. A ceremony is set for April 22, commemorating the C-130J as the benchmark for tactical airlift.