McConnell Airmen support McGuire aircraft evacuation

Published Aug. 30, 2011
By Master Sgt. Brian Bahret
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- With the maintenance expertise and ramp space readily available, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., fulfilled its role as safe haven for five KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft that evacuated from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 26 as Hurricane Irene approached.

While the McGuire's hurricane evacuation plan isn't new, the resources available at McConnell enabled the men and women of the Air National Guard 108th Wing to leave their aircraft in Kansas and return to protect their families and their homes, said Lt. Col. Bruce Hamilton, 108th Wing tactics officer.

"Normally we would stay here for a few days, but the storm (looked) so bad we wanted to return home to help our families through it," he said.

Hamilton said the aircrew knew they could rely on Team McConnell and agreed "the aircraft will be safe here and they have maintenance and fuels support."

A total force team comprised of active duty Airmen, Guardsmen and Reservists received six KC-135s from McGuire.

The Airmen helped bed five down which remained until the Hurricane passed New Jersey. The ground crew helped "quick turn" the sixth Stratotanker so the Guardsmen to their home station, said Master Sgt. Chet McFarland, 22nd AMXS production expeditor.

"We can recover any KC-135 out there," he said. "We have the people and the manning to assist. This is what we do day in and day out."

He added that the flight schedule at McConnell was light when the McGuire aircraft arrived.

"It probably couldn't have worked out any better," he said. "It was a training day ... we were ready to go at a moment's notice."

The New Jersey-based aircrews remained in Wichita long enough to resupply and return to N.J.

"The smooth exchange says a lot for the different Air Force components," said Senior Master Sgt. Martin Currey, 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent.

He said the total team approach is something McConnell works on daily, and with fellow Airmen facing a natural disaster the maintainers were glad to help.

"We take on the extra burden of taking care of their aircraft so they can take care of their family," said Currey. "Aircraft are aircraft -- you can't replace your family."