Manas members continue to support coalition operations

  • Published
  • By Maj. Damien Pickart
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  Coalition personnel continue to perform their daily air mobility and aerial refueling missions at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, despite press reports that an announcement is pending from Kyrgyz leaders about the future of the base.

"Until we are told that our mission has changed, we will continue to support coalition operations in Afghanistan as the premier air mobility and aerial refueling hub," said Col. Christopher Bence, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

Manas AB currently serves as the air mobility hub for the International Security Assistance Force and coalition military forces operating in Afghanistan. The around-the-clock missions include aerial refueling, airlift and airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and support for coalition personnel and cargo transiting in and out of Afghanistan.

In 2008, the wing's fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers flew 3,294 refueling missions passing 194,453,400 pounds of gas to 11,419 aircraft over the Afghanistan sky. Manas AB personnel also supported more than 170,000 coalition personnel transiting in and out of Afghanistan and processed 5,000 short tons of cargo, to include spare parts and equipment, uniform items and various items to support personnel and mission needs.

The 376th AEW began operations at the Manas International Airport in December 2001, in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Initially referred to as Ganci Air Base, in honor of Peter Ganci Jr., the New York City Fire Department chief who died in the World Trade Center attack, Manas AB has hosted coalition personnel and aircraft from 10 countries including Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain and the United States.

Currently, 1,000 personnel from Spain, France and the United States are assigned to the base, along with 650 U.S. and host-nation contractor personnel that provide daily support to various missions. Aircraft assigned include U.S. KC-135s, French C-135FRs and Spanish C-130s.

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