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Reservists deliver Dover's 11th C-5M

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Veronica Aceveda
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  When Dover Air Force Base, Del., received its 11th C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft June 21, 2013, history was recorded and heritage was remembered.

The Vice Commander of Air Force Reserve Command Maj. Gen. Craig N. Gourley piloted the newly modernized aircraft from Marietta, Ga. He was accompanied by a team of 709th Airlift Squadron fliers, marking the first time a C-5M was delivered to Dover AFB by an all-Reserve aircrew.

"As a flier, it's an honor to be a member of the team, delivering the symbolic key and aircraft to the base that maintains it," said Lt. Col. Patrick Egan, one of the pilots for the C-5M delivery and 709th AS operations officer. "From the Reserve perspective, today's delivery was nostalgic for our unit."

During World War II, the 709th AS used to be named the 709th Bombardment Squadron, which flew B-17 aircraft, one in particular was named "Blue Hen Chick." Later, a C-5B Galaxy aircraft assigned to Dover AFB carried the name "Spirit of the Blue Hen." And now, the aircraft the all-Reserve aircrew brought to Dover AFB as a new C-5M bares the same name - continuing the Blue Hen legacy.

After Gourley turned the key over to Staff Sgt. James Combs, a 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, the general toured the base including a visit to the TF-39 Central Repair Facility, where reservists and regular Air Force members work side-by-side, inspecting and repairing engines for the Air Force's fleet of C-5As and C-5Bs.

"Total Force Integration organizations are extremely important; it's the key to the way of our Air Force," said the general. "The fact is (the 512th and 436th Airlift Wings) are a model and a showcase for how we do business. It's incredible to be able to look around here and see how our Air Force is going to look in a couple of years."

The Reserve general wrapped up his visit by hosting a question and answer session with about 20 of the Liberty Wing's senior air reserve technicians.

He fielded questions ranging from manpower and training to inspections and headquarters processes.

"Thank you for all you do," he said during his final remarks. "It's nice to have a unit you can tell others to go visit. Keep up the good work."

Gourley flew back to Georgia that afternoon, leaving Dover's 11th C-5M on the runway awaiting its first mission to deliver. The base is slated to have a total of 18 C-5Ms in its inventory.


Members of the first all-Reserve aircrew C-5M delivery to Dover AFB are:

Pilots
Maj. Gen. Craig N. Gourley
Col. Raymond A. Kozak
Lt. Col. Patrick Egan
Maj. Seth Talbot

Flight Engineers
Master Sgt. Lucious Washington
Tech. Sgt. Kevin Calhoun

Loadmaster
Chief Master Sgt. George E. Mosley Jr.