The western USA is well known for the major forest fires that regularly ravage communities and damage the environment. Dr Kevin Wright visited the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard to find out more about its airborne firefighting mission.
Channel Islands Air National Guard (ANG) Station, in Ventura County, California sits on the Pacific coast and is home to the California ANGs Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules equipped 146th Airlift Wing (AW). The site, which is leased by the State of California, occupies an enclave adjacent to Point Mugu airfield, part of Naval Base Ventura County – the unit has been resident there since the late 1980s.
The Wing’s 115th Airlift Squadron (AS) is responsible for eight aircraft and is manned by around 350 full-time staff and 900 parttime ANG members.
In addition to its traditional airlift operations, the 146th AW is one of four USAF units that annually contributes aircraft and personnel to airborne firefighting, also known as the Mobile Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) mission.
This role is particularly demanding of the crews and as Lt Col Chris Dougherty, Commander of the 115th AS explained, requires its “most talented and qualified crews”.
AIR EXPEDITIONARY GROUP
