The aerial results of a Coast Guard flyover Sept. 2 of Wake Island were encouraging, showing much less damage from Typhoon Ioke than Air Force officials initially feared. USAF specialists from the 36th Contingency Response Group at Andersen AFB, Guam, currently en route to Wake aboard a Navy ship will conduct a more thorough on-site investigation of airfield operations and facilities. The airmen are due to arrive at Wake Sept. 8. USAF dispatched two C-17s from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to evacuate the 188 island residents prior to Ioke’s strike Aug. 31.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
