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Expeditionary airlift squadron inactivated at Joint Base Balad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  The 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron celebrated their achievements May 6 during an official ceremony on the flightline here.

The unit was inactivated May 15.

More than 150 members attended the ceremony, including Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Russell Handy, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq commander and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, U.S. Forces-Iraq Strategy, Plans and Assessment deputy director.

The 777th EAS is the most forward deployed C-130 airlift unit engaged in the Iraqi theater of operations. Reactivated September 2001, the squadron -- known as the "Dueling Dragons" -- began operations out of Joint Base Balad in February 2006.

"Dueling Dragons airlifters, as you stand here today, you should be proud of everything you have accomplished," said Col. Lance Landrum, 332nd Expeditionary Operation Group commander, a native of Prattville, Ala. "Proud to close a storied squadron with a long history of dedicated service. You have played an important role in a critical time in our history in Iraq."

To date the Dueling Dragons have operated C-130 Hercules E, H1 and H3 model-aircraft to airlift more than 500,000 passengers, 79,000 tons of cargo and have executed 43,000 airlift sorties since 2006.

"In true tactical airlifter sprit, the Dueling Dragons' can-do attitude allowed us to seamlessly support war fighters, airlift personnel, equipment and supplies throughout Central Command's area of responsibility," said Lt. Col. Dennis King, 777th EAS commander, who is deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

According to Colonel King, the Dueling Dragons have removed the equivalent of 850 vehicle convoys from improvised explosive device laden roads.

"For our report card (January to May 2011) your hard work, Dueling Dragons, have resulted in more than 500 combat missions, 1,900 sorties, airlifts of 22,800 personnel, 2,400 pounds of cargo and air medical evacuations of 300 patients," he said.

The colonel credited his maintainers for the up keep of 'flyable iron' which garnered a 92 percent mission ready aircraft fleet. This allowed his C-130 operators and support personnel to ensure a 99 percent mission completion rate.

"My hat is off to you Team Triple Seven," Colonel King said. "Together we moved mountains. This inactivation marks the beginning for many units here to soon follow...and the Iraqis under full autonomy of their people, military and government."

The 777th's mission will be absorbed under the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing from a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.