This time, it’s all aboard for Iraq
Base’s 61st Airlift Squadron leaves state with its crews intact for once
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Lt. Col. Ken Kopp (right) passes a piece of luggage down the line as members of the 61st Airlift Squadron load gear in preparation for the unit’s deployment Wednesday from Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.
Photo by Staton Breidenthal
The hallways in the 61st Airlift Squadron headquarters building are unusually quiet today.
Most of the squadron climbed onto a plane bound for Iraq on Wednesday in a rare full-squadron deployment. The 61st, like all six flying squadrons in Little Rock Air Force Base’s 19th Airlift Wing, has continually deployed crews and planes to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than eight years.
As the demand for both people and planes skyrocketed in recent years, squadron deployments gave way to more frequent deployments of small groups and individuals on varying schedules to locations with crews from other units.
“This deployment will make our squadron a family again,” said Capt. Anta Plowden, a pilot.
He remembered when he ...
Subscribers must LOG-IN to read this full story.
Monthly and yearly online subscriptions are available. Access is free for print subscribers. Click here to see rates and register.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 12/10/2009
Comments
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Registration is required to make comments. Click here to LOGIN.
You can register for FREE to post comments and receive alerts.