About 20 total Airmen of the Delaware Air Guard return home from Southwest Asia aboard C-130 aircraft on May 9 and 13

  • Published
  • By 030513
Nearly 20 Airmen of the Delaware Air National Guard return home over the next several days aboard C-130 aircraft after completing deployments that began in late February to the Southwest Asia combat zone where they served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

About half-a-dozen Airmen returned home today, May 9, travelling aboard a Texas ANG C-130 aircraft with Airmen from the Texas Air Guard. A dozen more Delaware ANG Airmen return home in a Delaware C-130 Monday, May 13.

The returning Delaware Air Guard Airmen are from two groups in the 166th Airlift Wing; the 166th Operations Group, which includes all C-130 aircrew and other Airmen with various critical job functions, and the 166th Maintenance Group, which includes crews who maintain and repair the aircraft. The Airmen are part of a contingent of about 100 unit Airmen serving up to 120 days under U.S. Air Force Central Command, and can operate anywhere in USCENTCOM's 20-nation area of responsibility.

Media are invited to the Monday May 13 homecoming, but must arrive on base no later than 11:30 a.m. and no earlier than 10:00 a.m. Media must call ahead to confirm attendance. Address: 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. Enter the base from Commons Boulevard and follow the signs for "Delaware Air National Guard."

Another small homecoming occurred earlier this week when five unit Airmen from the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron returned via commercial contract aircraft on May 8. They completed a mission lasting four months that began over the holidays. They left Delaware in late December, and began operations in Southwest Asia on New Year's Day to provide medical care in the air to America's wounded combat troops on their way home for further treatment.

Referring to the homecomings of May 8, 9 and 13, 166th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Mike Feeley said, "We welcome our two dozen Airmen home, and are especially happy to have some of them home safe for Mother's Day."

The Delaware ANG has 1,100 members, and continually deploys personnel and subordinate units around the globe. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written.

Delaware Air National Guard: Celebrating 67 years of Citizen-Airman service to our state and nation, 1946-2013

- 30 -