McConnell AFB Airmen take flight to support Libya operation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. (AFNS) --  Airmen packed and loaded pallets into deploying KC-135 Stratotankers March 19, 2011, here to support Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn members.

The U.S. Africa Command task force was established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

The UNSCR 1973 authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Libyan Col. Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

With 63 KC-135s assigned here, the base was an obvious choice for this short notice deployment, base officials said.

"McConnell (Air Force Base) will use its KC-135s to provide air refueling to our joint and coalition partners in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn," said Col. Kevin Lamberth, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander. "Our participation is integral to the success of this mission."

With more than 11 percent of McConnell AFB's assets deployed to the are of responsibility at any given time, they manage to perform 41 percent of the missions downrange, he said.

"McConnell (Air Force Base) is the Air Force's largest tanker base," Colonel Lamberth said. "Our participation is merely an extension of what McConnell Airmen do every day -- their best."