A C-130 and airmen with the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., took off on Wednesday to support firefighting efforts across the Western US. The Reserve aircrew and specially equipped C-130 responded to a request for assistance from the National Interagency Fire Center as wildfires burn in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and California, according to an Air Force Reserve Command news release. The unit will soon be joined by another C-130 from the 153rd Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard, the release states. This is the first activation of a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System aircraft so far in 2016.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.