Special unit provides airfield operations in New Orleans

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ed Gulick
  • Joint Task Force-Katrina Public Affairs
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, La. (AFPN) --  Without the quick deployment of an Air Mobility Command special unit, the air evacuation plan here would not have happened.

The 818th Contingency Response Group from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., arrived Aug. 31, a day after Hurricane Katrina demolished the area. They instantly provided relief to the few airport workers and firefighters who, alone, had been running helicopter rescue missions as soon as the hurricane passed.

“When we first got here, the fire department was doing phenomenal work,” said Lt. Col. David Wise, 819th Global Support Squadron operation officer. “They were literally sleeping by their trucks, carrying litters and marshalling helicopters.”

The 818th CRG quickly assessed the airfield condition and “filled in the holes” in operations that the small group could not, Colonel Wise said. Their mission of providing airfield operations where little or no infrastructure existed was in desperate need.

Working with other Air Force units, lights were installed on one runway and floodlights lit a section of the apron and concourse area allowing 24-hour operations until airport power was restored.

Soon, hundreds of aircraft, including Army and Coast Guard helicopters, and Air Force and Navy planes, swarmed the airfield around the clock.

Evacuees quickly filled the airport and CRG Airmen were constantly unloading relief aid from military and commercial aircraft.

CRG leaders are responsible for watching the overall flow of everything associated with airlift. Here, that meant getting to know key individuals involved in every facet of the operation.

Colonel Wise said the CRG had to interface with agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service.

The CRG oversaw the complete evacuation and relief aid process, provided support and recommended additional people or procedural changes to keep everything moving, Colonel Wise said.

One such example was when CRG leaders saw a need for more medical evacuation teams, Colonel Wise said. They quickly made recommendations to the appropriate agency and the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation team from Pope AFB, N.C., arrived soon after.

Airman 1st Class Stephen Vance, of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron, assisted with unloading aircraft.

“It’s definitely worth the time and effort to help out the evacuees," Airman Vance said. “I’m happy to be here.”