Alaska-based aircraft fly south as precaution to volcano

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MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFNS) --  Airmen at McChord Air Force Base are receiving a precautionary redeployment of Air Force aircraft from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen who operate and maintain them are being temporarily relocated due to increased activity associated with Mount Redoubt, a volcano located approximately 100-miles southwest of Elmendorf AFB.

Three Air Force Reserve Command C-130J Hercules aircraft on assignment from Mississippi to Alaska relocated to McChord Jan. 31; three Pacific Air Forces C-17 Globemaster IIIs will arrive at McChord Feb. 2. Other aircraft may arrive within the next 24 to 48 hours. McChord leadership anticipates the redeployment to last two to four weeks at a minimum.

McChord's own C-17 strategic airlift mission makes the base ideally suited to host the relocated aircraft and allows Elmendorf Airmen to continue to meet mission and training requirements.

"Our ability to quickly receive additional airpower on short notice and continue to support the nation's worldwide strategic airlift requirements is a capability long-associated with McChord," said Col. Jeffrey Stephenson, McChord's 62nd Airlift Wing commander. "We've supported evacuations in the past, and we will gladly support our fellow Airmen from Elmendorf as long as they need us."


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