The 162 airmen USAF cobbled together from 38 different bases and nine specialties to form the 70th Medium Truck Det. II in Southwest Asia have called it a day, after amassing more miles than any other Air Force convoy unit. Air Force and Army officials in SWA feted the 70th MTD II earlier this month, acknowledging their record five million miles since the in-lieu-of airmen arrived in theater in May 2006. The group completed 203 line-haul missions in Iraq and Kuwait, deploying Marine Corps and Army units throughout Iraq often while the convoys were under attack.
The United States Air Force is flying less than historic norms and funding for acquisition and readiness is on a path to further hollow out this too small and old force to that is incapable of sustaining an enduring combat air campaign.
