BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Hundreds of Airmen and a large contingent of aircraft including F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, C-17 Globemaster IIIs and KC-135 Stratotankers began arriving here today from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to avoid potential damage from high winds associated with Hurricane Matthew along the East Coast.
The aircrew and their fighter, cargo and air refueler aircraft are from the 4th Fighter Wing, the 20th Fighter Wing, the 437th Airlift Wing, and the 916th Air Refueling Wing, and are expected to share space on the Barksdale flightline through the weekend.
“Our team here at Barksdale Air Force Base is happy to provide refuge to our East Coast warriors," said Col. Ty Neuman, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "We are once again well-equipped and ready to welcome Airmen and aircraft as they out-fly an impending hurricane.”
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 looking for further information 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.