Despite the challenges of operating over difficult terrain, Air Force mobility aircrews are setting records for airdrops over Afghanistan, US Transportation Command officials at Scott AFB, Il., announced Tuesday. Plus these airmen are maintaining a 97 percent rate of delivery accuracy, they said. During a recent 12-week period, about 500 bundles of supplies were dropped per week, which amounts to 450 tons dropped each week. April was a record month for bundles dropped, with more than 2,700 delivered, said Col. Keith Boone, 621st Contingency Response Wing commander at JB McGuire, N.J. On April 7 alone, 200 bundles were dropped, a single day record, he said. “We have been steadily increasing since sustainment airdrop operations began in 2005,” he said. He continued, “Undoubtedly, this is the longest aerial delivery sustainment in the history of military operations.” (Scott report by Bob Fehringer)
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
