March Airmen aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Reservists and technicians from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., answered the President's call to 'lean forward' with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts here Nov. 1, 2012, by loading Southern California Edison equipment onto a Travis Air Force Base C-5 Galaxy and a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III. Here an Edison truck is loaded into the cargo bay of a C-5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)

March Airmen aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Reservists and technicians from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., answered the President's call to 'lean forward' with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts here Nov. 1, 2012, by loading Southern California Edison equipment onto a Travis Air Force Base C-5 Galaxy and a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III. Here an Edison truck is secured in the cargo bay of a C-5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)

March Airmen aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Reservists and technicians from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., answered the President's call to 'lean forward' with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts here Nov. 1, 2012, by loading Southern California Edison equipment onto a Travis Air Force Base C-5 Galaxy and a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III. Here an Edison truck is secured in the cargo bay of a C-5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)

March Airmen aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Published Nov. 1, 2012
By Linda Welz
452 AMW/PA

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- Airmen from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, spun up a massive relief effort before dawn this morning in response to the nation's call to provide supplies and equipment to areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Crews from 12 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve bases across the nation descended upon March Air Reserve Base, Calif., this morning to pick up approximately 10 passengers, 632 short tons of equipment and supplies to deliver to Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. The passengers and cargo, including 69 vehicles belonging to the Southern California Edison utility company, will assist in restoring power and providing humanitarian assistance to the stricken region.

Air Force Reserve Command members of the 452d Air Mobility Wing, including 50th/56th Aerial Port Squadrons and the 452 Airlift Control Flight began cargo processing and loading immediately after receiving the call.

"I am extremely proud of our aerial porters, logistics planners, air crews, and Airlift Controllers," said Col. Samuel Mahaney , 452 AMW commander. "Our citizen airmen, members of the Air Force Reserve, have responded gallantly to this national crisis and are working at the highest operations tempo to ensure the delivery of this essential equipment in the fastest possible time."

Three March C-17 Globemaster IIIs and dozens of crewmembers will be participating around the clock in relief efforts along with C-5 Galaxy and C-17 aircraft from Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units.

"This operation demonstrates the strength of our air mobility system, said Col. James Finney, 452 AMW vice commander. "By leveraging our Reserve component, in partnership with our active duty airmen, we are able to provide rapid response to national requirements. This is total force global mobility at its finest."