Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

A C-5, one of the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory, is being loaded at daybreak Sunday with equipment belonging to the 908th Airlift Wing. Maxwell personnel went to 24-hour operations Saturday to load and process the 908th for a deployment exercise in preparation of the Wing’s December Operational Readiness Inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

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Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Nightime made no difference as aircraft loading continued, a "K-loader" is maneuvered inside a C-5, 908th mobility bags are pulled from storage and prepared for loading, a portable heater and electric generator are positioned and 908th members ensure a cargo pallet is securely fastened. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Nightime made no difference as aircraft loading continued, a "K-loader" is maneuvered inside a C-5, 908th mobility bags are pulled from storage and prepared for loading, a portable heater and electric generator are positioned and 908th members ensure a cargo pallet is securely fastened. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Nightime made no difference as aircraft loading continued, a "K-loader" is maneuvered inside a C-5, 908th mobility bags are pulled from storage and prepared for loading, a portable heater and electric generator are positioned and 908th members ensure a cargo pallet is securely fastened. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Nightime made no difference as aircraft loading continued, a "K-loader" is maneuvered inside a C-5, 908th mobility bags are pulled from storage and prepared for loading, a portable heater and electric generator are positioned and 908th members ensure a cargo pallet is securely fastened. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Nightime made no difference as aircraft loading continued, a "K-loader" is maneuvered inside a C-5, 908th mobility bags are pulled from storage and prepared for loading, a portable heater and electric generator are positioned and 908th members ensure a cargo pallet is securely fastened. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Base goes to 24-hour ops to load, ‘deploy’ 908th Airlift Wing

Published Sept. 18, 2009
By Carl Poteat
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Starting at noon on Saturday, members of the 42nd Air Base Wing went to 24-hour operations until Monday night, exercising the Wing's ability to deploy one of its largest mission partners - the 908th Airlift Wing.

In a dress rehearsal for its December Operational Readiness Inspection, the 908th conducted an Operational Readiness Exercise, or ORE, from Saturday through today, according to Gary Looney, team chief of the 42nd ABW Exercise and Evaluation Team, or EET.

The 908th, which maintains and flies eight C-130H aircraft, is the only flying Air Force Reserve Wing in the state of Alabama.

The ORE consisted of the actual deployment of personnel and equipment to a training site in Gulfport, Miss. After demonstrating field operations at the training site for several days, the Reserve unit "re-deployed" to Maxwell today, Mr. Looney said.

Base members, who also store and maintain 908th assets such as mobility bags and small arms, worked around the clock in loading 160 short tons of cargo into six of the 908th's C-130s and also two C-5 aircraft from the Reserve's "Alamo Wing," the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas. The C-5 is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory.

Mr. Looney also said 350 908th members went through the base personnel processing line.

In addition to 42nd ABW EET members, the 908th had evaluators from its numbered Air Force, the 22nd Air Force, headquartered at Dobbins ARB, Ga. At Gulfport, the 908th met up with members of other Reserve Wings - the 911th Airlift Wing from Pittsburg ARB, Ga., and the 94th Airlift Wing from Dobbins ARB, Ga. - for the combined exercise.