Mayor Holloway Takes Flight on "The Spirit of Biloxi"

  • Published
  • By 403rd Wing Public Affairs
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Mayor A.J. Holloway took his first flight aboard the recently christened "Spirit of Biloxi," a cargo aircraft assigned to the 403rd Wing's "Flying Jennies."

The mayor and 29 other civic leaders took part in the wing's annual Civic Leader Tour, which provides community leaders an opportunity to 'walk in the boots' of the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve.

"It's very nice to be able to go on a trip like this," said Mayor Holloway, who journeyed with the group to Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. "The relationship between our community and the Air Force Reserve is important; it's important to know what they do here and it's nice to know them on a personal basis."

Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, Commander, 403rd Wing, joined the group on the tour to Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral, visiting the 45th Space Wing and the 920th Rescue Wing, touring the facilities and learning about the various missions of the Air Force Reserve.

During the trip, the group visited pararescuemen at the 920th, and had a chance to watch these elite troops perform demonstrations of their life-saving skills.
At the 45th, or the "gateway to space," civic leaders walked the halls of the mission control center, and learned about its integral role in space operations.
After a windshield tour of other historical sites and places of interest, the group returned to Keesler on the "Spirit of Biloxi."

On the return flight Mayor Holloway remained attentive as he surveyed the progress of rebuilding on the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Holloway became a national figure during the hurricane by staying at City Hall while the storm made landfall and by immediately directing relief efforts.

"Our civic leader tours are valuable because they reinforce the partnership between community and the 403rd Wing, and it's important for them to see the critical role our citizen airmen play in our nation's defense," said General Moss.