22 Delaware Air Guard Airmen to arrive home this afternoon, Thursday Sept. 18, from Hurricane Ike missions in Texas Published Feb. 17, 2009 By 080908 NEW CASTLE, Delaware -- Delaware Air National Guard Hedquarters, 166th Airlift Wing 2600 Spruance Drive New Castle, DE 19720-1615 Contact: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey Public Affairs Specialist, 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard Office 302-323-3369, or cell 302-593-2126 E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil Release No. 2008-9-008, September 18, 2008 [corrected Release No.] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW CASTLE - This afternoon, Sept. 18, 2008, we expect two Texas Air National Guard C-130 aircraft to land at New Castle Airport to bring home 22 Airmen from the Delaware Air National Guard after the Delaware Airmen assisted with Hurricane Ike relief efforts in Texas. The first aircraft will land at about 2:30 p.m., and the second is expected to land about 4:00 p.m. News media may call if interested in coverage of the landings or to request interviews. All 22 Airmen played an integral part in the assistance rendered by the Delaware National Guard to the people of Texas. Twenty-one of the 22 Airmen are from the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and one Airman comes from the 166th Medical Group. Eight Airmen from the Delaware Air Guard remain on duty in Texas, and they should return very soon, likely within days. Two (2) Delaware Army Guard Soldiers remain in Austin, Texas, supporting specialized communications equipment needed in relief operations. Eight (8) Airmen from the Delaware Air National Guard remain in the Capital Region (greater Washington D.C. area) performing duties to coordinate the ongoing National Guard response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Delaware National Guard also has several dozen troops supporting our Joint Operations Center in Wilmington and our Joint Communication, Command, Control and Computer Coordination Center in Smyrna. At the air base in New Castle, two Delaware Air Guard C-130 aircraft are available for hurricane relief missions if needed. Also, the Delaware National Guard can send 189 troops to respond to the Gulf Coast if requested. These troops are a combination of 54 Airmen and 135 Soldiers from security forces, aviation, engineering, transportation, maintenance, and communication units. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. - 30 -