Hurricane Matthew Preparations Continue

Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., Shaw AFB, S.C., and Moody AFB, Ga., joined the list of Air Force bases that are relocating aircraft to avoid damage from Hurricane Matthew. Seymour-Johnson, which is miles from the coast, had been in a wait and see mode, but planned to move 41 F-15E Strike Eagles from the 4th Fighter Wing and six KC-135 Stratotankers from the 916th Air? Refueling Wing to Barksdale AFB, La., on Thursday, according to a release. Airman at the base also prepared the Dare County Bomb Range and Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area for the oncoming storm. F-16s from Shaw were also relocated to Barksdale, according to a 2nd Bomb Wing release. Moody’s aircraft that couldn’t be stored in hangars, including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, were moved to Tyndall AFB, Fla., base spokesman TSgt. Zachary Wolf said in an email. As of Thursday afternoon, a hurricane warning was in effect for portions of the Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina coastlines, where the storm is expected to track across between Thursday and Sunday. A number of bases along the southeastern US coast, including Patrick AFB, Fla., JB Charleston, S.C., JB Langley-Eustis, Va., began relocating aircraft earlier in the week.