Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

In response to President Obama's call for the government to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, a Westover C-5B flew to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., picked up 73 electrical workers and two utility trucks, and dropped them off at Stewart Air National Guard Base, near New York City, hours later. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Westover C-5 and crew participate in round-the-clock relief ops

In response to President Obama's call for the government to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, a Westover C-5B flew to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., picked up 73 electrical workers and two utility trucks, and dropped them off at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y. hours later. The workers and equipment will augment relief efforts in New York and New Jersey. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Fourteen-hour hour mission delivers relief supplies

Published Nov. 6, 2012
By SrA. Kelly Galloway
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- While "Superstorm Sandy" moved inland across the Midwest, a Westover C-5B crew flew to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to pick up 73 electrical workers and two utility trucks.

Fourteen hours after taking off from Westover, they dropped unloaded the workers and equipment at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., to help with relief operations, a trip that would have taken six days to drive.

MSgt. Jim Whelton, 337th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, said it was the first time he'd loaded the large utility trucks, "so I'm learning as I go."

Aircraft and crews from 12 bases across the nation were mobilized Nov. 1 to pick up 632 short tons of equipment supporting relief efforts, including 69 large utility vehicles, according to an Air Force news release. The relief workers and equipment will augment efforts in New York and New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

"Out of a total of 120 volunteers from Southern California Edison electric company, we ended up being the lucky ones to catch a ride in the C-5," said Richard Valdez, a troubleman with Edison electric. The volunteer force is made up of linemen, foremen, troublemen and supervisors, he said. "We've been involved in relief responses like this for years."