The 305th Air Mobility Wing at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on Oct. 28 evacuated its C-17s and KC-10s in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy’s arrival, according to a base release. The C-17s flew to JB Charleston, S.C., and MacDill AFB, Fla., while the KC-10s headed to Grand Forks AFB, N.D. The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing announced that it would be closed at McGuire on Oct. 29. Meanwhile, officials at Dover AFB, Del., on Oct. 28 instituted a reduced operations policy through the afternoon of Oct. 30, according to a base release. They also issued a limited evacuation order for some housing residences and restricted driving on base. Like McGuire, Dover was near the center of Sandy’s projected path. At JB Langley-Eustis, Va., officials limited base access to all but mission-essential personnel through midnight on Oct. 29. Non-essential services like the base exchange are closed on Oct. 29 and flooding was expected in low-lying areas, according to updates posted at the base’s Twitter site. Hanscom AFB, Mass., is also closed on Oct. 29 to all but mission-essential personnel, according to the base’s website.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
