Another milestone the MSM won’t mark
Air Force reader Daniel e-mails this story of a milestone the MSM won’t commemorate:
Air Mobility Command passed a major milestone Nov. 19, when an AMC aircraft flew the command’s one millionth sortie since September 11, 2001.
The landmark flight was a C-17 mission flown to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The crew was from the 62nd Airlift Wing’s 10th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
“AMC is firmly in the fight,” said Gen. Arthur Lichte, AMC commander. “Whether it’s flying airlift, tanker or aeromedical missions in and out of combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, humanitarian relief missions to hurricane and earthquake ravaged areas, or supporting UN peacekeeping missions as it did recently in Darfur, AMC is there.”
“This milestone is a tribute to the men and women who fly, maintain, support and control these aircraft. The excellence they demonstrate every day will no doubt continue for the next million missions, wherever they may be,” said Lichte.
Did you know:
- About every 90 seconds a mobility aircraft lifts off somewhere in the world.
- Since Sept. 11, 2001, AMC tankers have passed nearly 1.2 billion gallons of fuel to U.S. and allied aircraft.
- AMC airlift is keeping about 12,000 people and almost 5,000 trucks off Iraqi roads each month, helping to defeat the enemy’s IED strategy.
- AMC aircraft are responsible for transporting the nation’s senior leaders, including the president.
- AMC is rushing about 12 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan every day. The command has delivered more than 1,000 MRAPs.
- AMC aeromedical crews provide timely airlift and medical care to their fellow warriors, rapidly moving injured service members from the battlefield to the U.S.
It’s still the Thanksgiving weekend. Keep these men and women on your list of things to be grateful for every day.
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May God Bless the United States Air Force. Well done AMC. Thanks.
May God bless the zoomies!!!Mission accomplishment would be hard without close air support from the guys in blue.
As a proud Air Force vet 1967-74 I
too salute the AMC. Ditto’s on the previous WD….
There has been plenty of times this Marine has looked up in the sky, and thanked God for airmen who were bombing forward enemy positions. God bless all the airmen, and their families. Good luck on your next million missions.
On my previous comment I have this to add: we all can’t be English majors. I’m a Marine not a writer.
the guerilla
Thank you to all of the brave men and women who fight the good fight, even when they don’t get recognized for it.
Michelle,
Thanks for showing my old airplane tanking a flight of F-16 fighters. I used to love it when we had chicks in tow usually on a fighter drag across the pond. About every 40 minutes I would be running to the back to pass some gas. World’s greatest video game too bad the “T-tail mafia” took over tanker operations when SAC went away. As the tanker community says N.K.A.W.T.G (Nobody Kicks A@@ Without Tanker Gas). Earned over 2,000 hours in the KC-135A, KC-135Q (designed to support the SR-71), and KC-135A/RT (refuelable tanker) and over 1,500 hours in the KC-10A in 11 years of flying duty before the Medical Hobby Shop took away my flying status.
It is a significant event to pass the 1 millionth sortie flown since the war began. The 62nd Military Airlift Wing was my first duty assignment after Basic Training and Technical School in 1976. McChord AFB is a beautiful assignment although the moonbats are worse than they used to be. The C-17 is an incredible versatile aircraft, but we need more of them to replace our aging cargo fleet. The C-141B fleet broke its back during Desert Storm and the C-5B is about at the end of its useful service life. Plus we always called it the F.R.E.D. (Freaking Ridiculous Economic Disaster) because it cost a fortune to keep it flying. We really need a new tanker fleet with the KC-135R as old as I am (flying re-engined aircraft built from 1957-1964). It is a miracle they are still flying with an incredible safety record, and their cost per flying hour is among the lowest in the fleet. I bet right now a tanker is supporting a group of fighters or a B-1B bomber ready to provide airborne support to our troops on the ground.
Sorry about being long winded, but I still wish I could fly when I see a KC-135R or a KC-10A in the traffic pattern or stopping over at Mountain Home AFB to support our Fighter Wing. Once it gets in your blood you just can’t get it out.
Yes, a most heartfelt Thank You!
A million sorties and so few mishaps for the MSM to gloat about… may the Lord’s protection be with them.
And for the MSM, their shameful silence gives comfort to the enemy. I have no doubt that if they do ever mention this this great feat it will be to criticize the carbon foot print… “Bush’s war accelerates global warming!, women & minorities affected most! Film at 11:00″ Yeah, I can see it know.
Anyone remember this?
You take the blue from the skies
And a pretty girl’s eyes
And a touch of Old Glory’s hue
And give it to the men (& women)
Who proudly wear
The U. S. Air Force blue
Showing my age.
I wouldn’t expect to here about this on the nightly news, since logistics is boring to news reporters. Since mishaps have been very few and far between, this media silence is an eloquent tribute to the safety, reliability and effectiveness of our airlift operations.
According to family accouts - my third word after Mama and Da was-Airplane - it shocked my uncle (a P-38 pilot) who was pushing the buggy at the time. We kids used to be ready passengers when the offer came to fly with him in his various Cessna planes.(everyone else was too afraid I guess)
Having recently completed ground pilot school myself, I can fully appreciate what our military pilots are doing for this country. Thank you guys.
That would be -According to family accounts-
No “Top Gun” would complete a mission,with out those refueling tankers.No “Grunt”can complete their mission,without resupply/transport.
There is alot to the U.S.Airforce,besides fighter pilots.
After spending the majotity of my adult life as a grunt, I deeply appreciate those blue suiters that kept us in the fight and absolutely despise the professional politicians that always cut the funding that was necessary for US to win the fight!
Go Air Force!
FIDO! (Fu$k it Drive On!)
Having completed a twenty-year career in 2003; I am back in the mix as a civilian employee, my work is more important now. I work with the world-premier C-17 wing at Charleston Air Force Base; I’m sure a lot of troops here a little envious of this milestone going to McChord. It doesn’t matter; getting the job done is, and they are doing it by the bushel.
Git’r dun Air Force!
Safe missions and return for all our military personnel in harm’s way. It’s sort of a dark milestone to be sure. Ours cannot be a way of death and war, even when used in the face of evil. At some point the purity of reason, being and peace transcends all the artifice and ego-contrivances that mires so many lives in misery.
Another proud USAF vet here (Dec ‘63 - Dec ‘67). Lots of us, then and now, don’t face those unspeakable combat situations directly. Nor did we have any significant risk of loss of life / limb (I worked in flight simulators), but we did our part.
Remember the ’60s? Lots of protesting and marching, like today — and just the same, the outspoken had no regard to the real dangers that we were facing. Back then it was fear of nuclear annihilation from the Soviets … I lived it daily in Strategic Air Command…
–Ken
One more proud USAF vet here, too. I miss wearing that uniform and being part of something that gave me a great deal of pride. I spent part of my tour at Dover Air Force Base, home of the C5 and member of AMC (436th Weather Flight, 436th Operatioins Support Squadron, 436th Operations Group, 436th Airlift “Eagle” Wing). Good days, those. Good days.
The United States Air Force - Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do.
Love the Air Force! Without them, we would truly be hurting. My favorite memory of AMC guys is how shocked they were when they discovered that my tank didn’t have an air conditioner in it, and it routinely got to 120-130 degrees inside. The horror!!
Not to worry. The MSM will cover the story , just as soon as Al GOre figures out a way to offset carbon and make a profiet out of it.
One of the coolest things I ever saw was a pair of F-16s refueling over Beartooth Pass in southern Montana on a crystal clear summer day 3 and a half years ago. Kind of stirs the blood knowing we have people who can make that kind of thing work so well.
Hey ArmoredCav, Heck when I was TC’n my tank, the air outside was close to 120 and the inside never got below 90.
Add my thanks to the Air Force. I especially love those 2 F-4 pilots who came to the rescue that morning north of Lai Khe and to Boomer’s buddies who gave them the juice to get there and back.
What a team our military is !!
Thanks for putting up those AMC facts. I sent them on to my favorite 1LT C-17 driver out at Charleston.
And allow me to throw in some love for our boys in blue, as well. I’m convinced that if it wasn’t for the Air Force (and their wonderful A-10s!), this poster wouldn’t be here to offer his pointed commentary…THANK GOD FOR THE AIR FORCE!
I’ll never forget my first ride on a C-130 or C-17… the Soldiers get on and take all the good sleeping/sitting spots… and this poor zoomie took what was left.
Kevlaur
I agree with nbarry#10 - this only gets reported if a plane crashes.
Thank you Air Force. The United States military, the best that has ever existed on this planet, has the greatest Air force. Love it!
Kill them all!