Doolittle Raiders to attend Air Mobility Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Laura McAndrews
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  Three of the remaining nine Doolittle Raiders will attend the Air Mobility Rodeo July 19 through 24 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.

The Doolittle Raiders are special guests of Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, and are scheduled to attend Rodeo competitions, demonstrations and a town hall meeting July 22, as well as hold an autograph signing session July 23.

The Doolittle Raiders accomplished the first air bombing raid by the United States against a Japanese island during World War II using 16 B-25B bombers launched from the USS Hornet, a Naval aircraft carrier.

All 16 aircraft were lost and 11 crew members were either killed or captured. One of the bombers landed in Soviet territory where the crew was interned for more than one year.

"We are truly honored and humbled to have these heroic Airmen of our nation's 'Greatest Generation' as our guests for this event," said Maj. Gen. Brooks L. Bash, the AMC director of operations and Rodeo leader.

More than 2,500 mobility airmen from around the globe participate in the biannual, multinational readiness competition and compete in core AMC capabilities of airdrop, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and cargo delivery operations. Rodeo also focuses on ground operations, including security forces, combat control, aerial port and maintenance.

More than 100 Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard teams will compete against each other, as well as against international air force and U.S. Marines Corps teams.

Rodeo will host seven foreign competitors and 17 observing countries including military competitors from Belgium, Israel, Malaysia, South Korea and Turkey. Other international military members observing the events include representatives from Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, England and Vietnam. NATO will also be sending a representative to observe.

A variety of more than 40 aircraft will be used during this year's competition, including C-5 Galaxies, C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-130 Hercules aircraft, KC-10 Extenders, KC-135 Stratotankers, C-160s, C-21s, C-20s, C-32s, C-295 and T-1s.

"Air Mobility Command provides our country with unrivaled global reach -- anyplace, anytime," General Bash said. "Rodeo gives us an opportunity to share our tactics and techniques with each other and our friends from around the world."

Daily overseas contingency operations demonstrate how AMC is firmly in the fight, as AMC accounts for approximately 70 percent of the air missions flown in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. AMC Airmen fly into harm's way every day to deliver troops, cargo and fuel with speed and precision. On a typical day, mobility forces fly about 900 sorties and move nearly 2,000 tons of cargo and more than 6,000 passengers. This operations tempo equates to a mobility aircraft departure every 90 seconds 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For more than 50 years, Rodeo has helped Air Force mobility professionals foster teamwork and hone their skills, developing professional, disciplined Airmen. The previous Rodeo was held in 2007. This year introduces a new award: the Best Contingency Response Unit.

The overall winners of 2009 Rodeo will receive the Best Air Mobility Team Award, the Gen. William G. Moore Trophy. In 2007, the 60th Air Mobility Wing from Travis AFB, Calif., took home the honors.

The competition wraps up with more than 100 awards, the top 16 awards will be presented July 24 during the closing ceremonies.