Photo Information

Lt. Col. Steve Catchings greets his sons after his return to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Approximately 150 members of the 908th Airlift Wing returned Sept. 17-18, 2010, from a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Gene H, Hughes)

Photo by Gene H, Hughes

Sweet Home Alabama: 908th deployers return

27 Sep 2010 | Gene H. Hughes

Approximately 150 members of the 908th Airlift Wing returned to Maxwell Air Force Base this past weekend after a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia. The main body arrived via a commercial airliner late Friday evening, while the unit's C-130 Hercules transports and aircrews arrived on Saturday and Sunday.

The Reservists, aircrews and maintenance personnel, departed in May. The Reservists provided airlift in support of United States Central Command for Operation Iraqi Freedom, recently renamed New Dawn.

In addition to its duties as part of the war on terror, two 908th aircrews also took part in humanitarian relief missions to Pakistan after that country was struck by devastating floods in late July. The Alabama Reservists participated in the delivery of more than 60,000 pounds of food and supplies.

It has been an active year for the 908th. After being certified deployment ready by Air Mobility Command at its Operational Readiness Inspection in December, the unit worked to prepare for duty overseas. Several members of the unit, mostly medical and aerial port Airmen, departed for a four-month tour in Southwest Asia in January.

The wing also provided rapid humanitarian response earlier this yearwhen earthquakes struck Haiti. In all, about 400 of the 1,200 members of the wing have deployed this year.

"We're very proud of the sacrifices made by our warriors and their families," said Col. Robert H. Shepherd, wing commander. "Their efforts during the deployment, to include forward deploying to support a significant humanitarian relief operation, were vital to our nation's defense and in keeping with our tradition of service."