BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- –Hundreds of aircrew and a large contingent of aircraft including F-15E Strike Eagles and KC-135 Stratotankers began arriving here today from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to avoid potential damage from high winds associated with Hurricane Joaquin along the East Coast.
The aircrew and their fighter and air refueler aircraft are from the 916th Air Refueling Wing and the 4th Fighter Wing, and are expected to share space on the Barksdale flightline through the weekend.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome our fellow combat warriors here to Barksdale Air Force Base and the Shreveport-Bossier Area," said Col. Kristin Goodwin, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "We are primed to ensure Seymour Johnson Airmen have a comfortable stay as we welcome them with Barksdale's southern hospitality.”
Airmen throughout the 2nd BW in maintenance, operations, support and logistics units are working together to make the visit as seamless as possible and demonstrate Barksdale’s ability to be generous hosts for this large-scale movement.
This relocation is part of a standard precautionary relocation plan, and contingency plans such as this are routine for military installations to ensure the safety and security of high-value assets.
Media Advisory: Outlets interested in covering the visit should contact 2nd BW Public Affairs at 318-456-1015 or 2bw.pa@us.af.mil. Capturing takeoffs and landings will not be possible, but aircraft will be parked on the flightline.