The USAF C-130 Hercules unit that moved to Balad AB, Iraq, in January, becoming the first Herc unit to operate from a base in a forward location, flies twice the number of missions as other C-130 units traversing Southwest Asia. And, the airmen of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron accomplish this feat with the standard complement of aircrews and maintainers, reports Air Force journalist SrA. Kerry Solan-Johnson. USAF moved the unit into theater to alleviate more of the Army’s truck convoy missions. The unit flies seven missions a day, with the help of 15 six-man aircrews, along with maintainers, life support technicians, flight medics, and other support personnel.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
