Airmen, Soldiers participate in Operation Thunderstruck
A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., takes off as another C-17 taxis in preparation for a strategic brigade airdrop exercise over North Auxiliary Airfield Dec. 16, 2009, near North, S.C., demonstrating the global projection of U.S. airpower. Charleston AFB Airmen conducted a large formation exercise utilizing 10 C-17 aircraft. Soldiers from the 2-319th Airborne Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C., were airdropped along with cargo pallets to simulate the seizure of a remote airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown)