815th Airlift Squadron Inactivation Delayed

Air Force Reserve Command announced it is delaying the inactivation of the 815th Airlift Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., until the details of the Fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill are clear. The Fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act required the Air Force to transfer 10 of Keesler’s C-130Js to Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina and to shutter the 815th AS along with its Active Duty counterpart, the 345th AS. However, the Fiscal 2015 legislation calls for the closure of the 440th Airlift Wing at Pope, which was to receive the aircraft, opting instead to bed down the C-130Js at Little Rock AFB, Ark., according to a July 29 AFRC release. The inactivation ceremony was supposed to take place in September, Maj. Marnee Losurdo, spokeswoman for the 403rd Wing told Air Force Magazine. “We continue to evaluate the evolving situation and remain committed to safe mission accomplishment,” said Col. Frank Amodeo, 403rd Wing commander, in the release. “Should the 10 aircraft in question depart, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the “Hurricane Hunters,” will remain at Keesler as the Wing’s sole flying squadron.”