361st ERS reaches milestone supporting OEF

Published April 12, 2013
By 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here, which operates the MC-12 Liberty, surpassed 100,000 combat flight hours supporting ground operations that have led to the capture or elimination of more than 4,000 high-value individuals.

The 100,000-flying-hour mark represents the immense efforts of the men and women of the MC-12W Liberty program, said Lt. Col. John Polkowksi, 361st ERS commander. It also indicates the high demand for this intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset. Each of these flying hours has been dedicated to supporting ground forces and the counterinsurgency effort, ensuring the protection of U.S and coalition forces.

The 361st ERS was activated May 1, 2010, and in less than three years achieved more than 100,000 combat flight hours with approximately two dozen aircraft, flying the highest sortie rates of any manned aircraft in the Air Force inventory.

In April 2008, then Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates established a Department of Defense-wide ISR Task Force to identify and recommend solutions for increased ISR assets in the central command area of responsibility. Gates tasked Air Force officials to acquire 37 "C-12" class aircraft to augment remotely piloted aircraft in support of the ISR mission.

The Air Force teamed with L-3 Communications and Hawker Beechcraft to field the MC-12W. The result was the fastest military acquisition since the P-51 Mustang in World War II.

"From concept to its first combat mission, the MC-12W was fielded in under one year," said Lt. Col. David Leazer, 361st ERS director of operations. "Because of the speed at which this platform was brought to the fight, the program was named in honor of the Liberty Ships, which were mass produced during World War II."

According to Polkowski, the MC-12 is the workhorse of the Air Force.

"Aircrews operate near the maximum flying hours authorized every month," he said. "Airmen from the 361st ERS work seven days a-week, with virtually no days off for six months. They do the job all day, every day."

Not only do the Airmen work around the clock but so do the aircraft.

"This is not only a milestone for the squadron, but also for the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Group and L-3 Communications, who keep the MC-12W ready for combat," Polkowski said. "Over the past three years they have achieved nearly a 99 percent mission effectiveness rate."

He noted that the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15E Strike Eagle are typically retired when they reach 8,000 flying hours. In the three years since the program was created, more than 8,000 hours have been put on each MC-12 aircraft here.