WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Reservists from the 89th Airlift Squadron and 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flew aeromedical evacuation missions downrange to Southwest Asia August 24-28, 2016. The crew transported wounded warriors back from the area of operation to the United States.
During the five-day mission, the crew transported 50 patients to medical facilities in Germany and Washington, D.C. AE Airmen from both Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, rotated out on different legs of the mission to support the patients.
Every other week, the 445th Airlift Wing’s 89th AS flies their C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on an AE mission downrange.
Col. Craig McPike, 445th Operations Group commander was part of the crew on their most recent trip.
“I am very proud of (our aircrew) as they endured long sorties, maximum crew-duty days, circumnavigated massive thunderstorms, overflew the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Turkey, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf,” McPike said. “These are great Americans and I am so proud to serve alongside of them.”
McPike said so far this year, the wing has moved 13,000 tons of cargo, flown 16 aeromedical, 38 Air Mobility Command, 70 Air Force Reserve Command, four counter drug, five Denton cargo [humanitarian], and one multi-agency missions, while logging more than 3,600 flying hours.