Four Airmen from Delaware Air Guard return home tonight, June 20, 2008 after five months overseas Published Feb. 17, 2009 By 050608 NEW CASTLE, Delaware -- Delaware Air National Guard Headquarters, 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 Cell 302-593-2126, or Office 302-323-3369 E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil Release No. 2008-06-005 June 20, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW CASTLE - Later this evening, June 20, four Airmen from the 166th Aerial Port Flight, Delaware Air National Guard, will arrive home at Baltimore-Washington International Airport after five months of duty in Southwest Asia serving with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Delaware Air Guard noncommissioned officers will greet the four returning Airmen at BWI airport, and drive the Airmen home by van to reunite with their families. The four Airmen arriving tonight will complete out-processing Monday, June 23 at the New Castle air base. They will then enjoy some well-earned leave for downtime and family time. Nine other Airmen from the same unit returned home earlier this month. The group of 13 total unit Airmen left New Castle, Del. on Jan. 12, 2008 to start their overseas duty. All of these missions are part of the Delaware Air National Guard's support of Air Force Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployments of at least 120-days that active duty, reserve and guard units support on a rotational basis every 20 months. "This is the final group of Airmen coming home from the 166th Aerial Port Flight. I'm sure they are happy to be home on this first Friday evening of the summer. We are gratified that they have safely completed five months of duty and we are proud of their service. They successfully contributed to the Air Force mission by managing the accurate, safe loading of hundreds of aircraft and moving thousands of passengers," said Col. Jonathan Groff, commander, 166th Airlift Wing. Airmen from aerial port flights handle all cargo and passengers for a variety of Air Force aircraft, including C-5, C-17 and C-130 aircraft, to ensure safe and timely loading and unloading, and to account for every item on the flight manifest. The 379th AEW is one of the largest, most diverse expeditionary wings in the Air Force, providing combat airpower and support for the Global War on Terrorism in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and through support of the Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. The wing and its associate units operate more than 100 aircraft, making the base a large hub for humanitarian airlift activity while providing mission-essential combat power, aeromedical evacuation and intelligence support for three theaters of operations. If media wish to conduct interviews of this small group, please contact PUBLIC AFFAIRS at cell number 302-593-2126. The Delaware Air National Guard is a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force with 1,100 positions under Command of the Governor of Delaware, or the President of the United States when mobilized. The Delaware ANG has been serving Delaware and the United States of America since 1946. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. - 30 -