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380AEW Article

Photo essay: Sentry maintainers prepare aircraft at Southwest Asia base

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Maintenance Airmen from the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Sentry aircraft maintenance unit work on an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during flightline operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on March 8, 2010.

The E-3 Sentry operates in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron as a part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

In 2009, Airmen with the deployed AWACS unit flew 374 sorties, handling 22,103 aircraft and supporting 994 "troops in contact" actions. The 2009 numbers, courtesy of Mr. Ralph Jackson of the 380th AEW History Office, signifies the number of times E-3 Sentry aircraft circled over a "hot" area and directed fighter aircraft providing close-air support for troops on the ground in contact with enemy forces.

"They've been continuing this effort this year," Mr. Jackson said. "In January, they flew 34 sorties, handled 1,687 aircraft and responded to TICs. Our historical data shows they met all of their tasked sorties for January which means they were on target 100 percent of the time."

The 380th EAMXS, as part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

The deployed E-3 Sentrys and their associated maintenance Airmen are deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.