Heavy Lifting

The Heavy Airlift Wing that flies three C-17 transports out of Papa AB, Hungary, as part of the 12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability consortium recently moved 2.1 million pounds of equipment into Afghanistan in more than 30 sorties. They carried equipment to support the establishment of six forward operating bases in austere areas as part of the NATO troop surge there. “HAW participation in this large airlift effort is an important milestone in developing our operational capability,” said USAF Col. John Zazworsky, HAW commander. The wing activated in July 2009. It flew its first mission into Afghanistan last October. Zazworsky said the lessons learned from this mission will help to make the unit “even more effective” in the future. (Ramstein report by 1st Lt. J.D. Griffin)