ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, deployed two C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft Aug. 29 to Biggs Army Airfield, El Paso, Texas, in support of relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey.
The Airmen will transport 45 security personnel and 12,000 pounds of cargo from Biggs Army Airfield to San Antonio.
The two aircraft, consisting of 12 aircrew, seven maintenance, and two aircrew flight equipment personnel, will remain in Texas in support of ongoing relief efforts. They will operate out of Carswell Field at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, which is home to the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard.
This is the second mission the 139th Airlift Wing has received in support of relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey.
On Aug. 27, the wing deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft to Kentucky to transport 18 Airmen and equipment from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, to Fort Hood, Texas. The 30,000 pounds of equipment consisted of a variety of vehicles suited to hurricane recovery operations, including inflatable motor boats. The 123rd specializes in swift-water rescue, combined-space operations and emergency medical care. Those two aircraft returned to St Joseph on Aug. 28 but were met with foggy conditions at Rosecrans and had to land at Kansas City International Airport. They returned to Rosecrans the following day.
“The training and equipment possessed by the National Guard to fight our nation’s wars is what makes it possible to rapidly respond here in the homeland, and we will remain on duty as long as we are needed,” said Col. Ed Black, commander of the 139th Airlift Wing.
The Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing is comprised of approximately 1,200 citizen-Airmen from local communities throughout the region. The unit operates the C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft and has a dual mission to the state of Missouri and the federal government. Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is located at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, St. Joseph, Mo.