109th Airlift Wing Aircraft Depart for Antarctic Wednesday

• by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE , NY (10/20/2009)(readMedia)-- Two LC-130, ski-equipped aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing will depart from Stratton Air National Guard Base for Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze on Wednesday.

WHO: Two aircrews from the New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing flying two LC-130 aircraft equipped with skis so they can land on the ice at the South Pole.

WHAT: An opportunity for members of the media to witness the departure of the two planes one at 9 a.m. and one at 9:45 a.m. following an 8:15 press availability with members of the wing who have flown the Antarctic mission.

WHEN: 8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21.

WHERE: Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia NY

Members of the Media wishing to cover this event must contact the 109th Public Affairs Office at 344-2423 no later than Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. Media may call Tuesday after hours and leave a message. Media members must have photo ID in order to gain access to the base.

Coverage Opportunities:

A media briefing from leaders of the 109th Airlift Wing, and opportunities for one-to-one interviews with 109th Airlift Wing members and leaders. Visuals will include preparations for the departure and take-off for the Antarctic.

Background:

Operation Deep Freeze:

Operation Deep Freeze is the code name for the United States military's support to the U.S. Antarctic Program, conducted annually since 1955.

Operation Deep Freeze involves operational and logistic support of the National Science Foundation's scientific research activities in Antarctica by U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard forces. This support is provided by the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, led by 13th Air Force here. JTF SFA coordinates strategic intertheater airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.

Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand, is the staging point for deployment to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, a key research and operations facility for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Airlift for Operation Deep Freeze involves active-duty and Reserve C-17 support from McChord AFB along with the New York Air National Guard LC-130 Hercules aircraft from Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y.

The 109th Airlift Wing:

The ancestor of the 109th Airlift Wing, the New York Air National Guard's 139th Fighter Squadron was first organized in 1948 and flew World War II era Thunderbolt P-47s. In 1960 the unit began flying transport aircraft and in 1975 it acquired the mission of flying supply missions to Cold War radar stations in the Arctic and Iceland.

Since 1988 the 109th Airlift Wing has been providing support to the National Science Foundation's South Pole Research stations and in 1999 it became the only unit in the U.S. military flying ski-equipped transport aircraft. Previously the 109th had shared the mission with the U.S. Navy.

The wing operates LC-130 ski-equipped aircraft as well as conventional C-130s and has flown combat missions in support of Coalition forces in Afghanistan.