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McConnell Airmen take flight to support Libya operation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  McConnell Airmen packed pallets and loaded into deploying KC-135 Stratotankers March 19, 2011, a task they have performed in twice record time since the New Year began in preparation for the Operation Readiness Inspection in October. However, this wasn't an exercise.

McConnell's KC-135s Stratotankers deployed as part of the Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

The UNSCR 1973 authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

With 63 KC-135s assigned to McConnell, the base was an obvious choice for this short notice deployment.

"McConnell will use its KC-135s to provide air refueling to our joint and coalition partners in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn," said Col. Kevin Lamberth, 22nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander. "Our participation is integral to the success of this mission."

With more than 11 percent of McConnell's assets deployed to the AOR at any given time, they manage to perform 41 percent of the missions downrange.

"McConnell is the Air Force's largest tanker base," Colonel Lamberth said. "Our participation is merely an extension of what McConnell Airmen do every day...their best."