C-130s in Force in Europe

? Eight C-130 units joined together to launch 21 C-130s from Dyess AFB, Texas, as part of a joint forcible entry exercise. The mix of C-130Hs and C-130Js took off from Dyess, home of the 317th Airlift Group, on June 21, creating a large formation that headed to Nellis AFB, Nev., where the aircrews practiced airborne insertion, according to Dyess’ June 24 release. “During this exercise, the goal is to integrate assets to improve tactics, techniques, and procedures for airborne operations against advanced adversaries in an access-denied environment, while operating on a global scale,” said Capt. Alexander Johns, 317th AG mobility flight commander. In addition to Dyess’ own C-130Js, the C-130s staging from Dyess came from Dobbins ARB, Ga.; Keesler AFB, Miss.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.; Peoria ANGB, Ill.; Pittsburgh ARB, Pa., and Ramstein AB, Germany, states the release. (Dyess report by A1C Kedesha Pennant)