Alaska Air National Guard

by Christine Kim Saturday, February 13, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guardsmen came home from Haiti Saturday, after supporting earthquake relief efforts in the devastated country. Eight Guardsmen from the 144th Airlift Squadron returned to Kulis Air National Guard Base around 3 p.m. on a single C-130 transport. It was a small group of people, but they came back after doing a great deal of work. The group flew airlift and airdrop missions, taking people and supplies into Haiti.

Today Sand Lake community members and the Alaska Air National Guard re-dedicated a flag pole that once stood outside Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage. "When Kulis moved across town we decided that we needed to have something, that represented Kulis because it was such an important part of this part of town for 56 years," said Tastee Freez owner Rich Owens, who organized the ceremony. The Alaska Air National guard moved from Kulis, it's home since 1955, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson earlier this year.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, July 30, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Air Force has identified the four men killed in Wednesday's C-17 crash. Majors Michael Freyholtz and Aaron Malone, Capt. Jeffrey Hill and Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo were killed when the plane went down while practicing for this weekend's air show Wednesday night. Freyholtz and Malone were pilots assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron. Hill was a pilot assigned to Elmendorf's 517th Airlift Squadron, and Cicardo was a loadmaster with the 249th Airlift Squadron.

The USS Anchorage's arrival created a unique opportunity for pilots of the Alaska Air National Guard this week, with five HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter pilots training on takeoffs and landings from the moving warship as it cruised into Anchorage.  Maj. Brian Kile was one of the Pave Hawk pilots who became deck-landing certified during the Tuesday training with the Anchorage. He said it was the first opportunity in 15 years that members of the ANG's 210th Rescue Squadron have had to land on a Navy ship.

In an effort to show appreciation for Alaska's service members on Armed Forces Day, the 176th Air National Guard held a ceremony Saturday to honor current and fallen airmen. But today's event was extra special to the 176th wing because it's celebrating Armed Forces Day for the first time since it left Kulis Air National Guard Base in February, and this dedication is one more step towards calling Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson it's official home. More than 100 people came to watch the dedication of Memorial Park, which is located on base.  Several aircraft were brought to the park from Kulis as a salute to our nation's heroes.

Five volunteers with the American Red Cross of Alaska are heading south to help victims of the recent deadly tornados and floods, and up to four more may be sent in the next day or two, according to Red Cross of Alaska spokeswoman Katie Bender. The volunteers will assist in the relief efforts in Alabama and northern Mississippi. Deployments usually last about three weeks but could last longer depending on the need, said Bender. Their primary goal is to take care of the people affected by sheltering those who lost their homes, and providing meals to those who have been displaced.

by Ashton Goodell Tuesday, January 19, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard and Air Force crews are en route to Haiti. A week after the earthquake, rescue teams are still needed. Three C-17 cargo jets assigned to Elemendorf Air Force Base left Tuesday for South Carolina to help in the relief effort. A fourth plane will leave Wednesday. The teams will fly missions from Charleston, SC to Haiti to bring in food, water and medical aid. For the next two weeks, they will also evacuate those still in need of medical care.

Two people on board a plane that crashed on Knik Glacier were rescued by an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew Friday afternoon, according to Guard officials. No injuries were reported in the crash. Alaska ANG Staff Sgt. Karima Turner says the Federal Aviation Administration relayed an alert about the crash to the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, which dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to the crash site. The helicopter was able to land on the glacier and safely pick up the plane's occupants, although the extent of their injuries wasn't determined until the Pave Hawk arrived.

A plane crash near Healy Wednesday in which one person suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries is being responded to by Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Air National Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board. Alaska National Guard spokesperson Maj. Guy Hayes says the crash occurred above the Surprise Glacier, about 181 miles southwest of Fairbanks. Guardsmen were alerted by troopers after someone reported the incident from a satellite phone. The crash reportedly involved a pilot who was picking up a hunter and crashed on landing.

by Jason Lamb Monday, August 2, 2010 JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Monday was a time to reflect and remember, as the Alaska Air National Guard hosted a memorial service for the four airmen who died in the crash of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane near an Elmendorf runway last week. About two dozen family members and hundreds of service members attended the service at Elmendorf's Hangar 20. It was held the day after the close of the Arctic Thunder air show, for which the airmen were practicing when their C-17 crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday.

Five members of the Alaska Air National Guard 212th Rescue Squadron were recognized Saturday for their bravery, courage and heroic efforts in Afghanistan, putting their own life on the line to save countless others. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, military leaders held a Silver and Bronze Star Ceremony.  Members of the 212 th Rescue Squadron received a total of six medals, including one Silver Star and five Bronze Stars with valor. The Silver and Bronze Stars are the third and fourth highest combat decorations a serviceman can receive.

The USS Anchorage's arrival created a unique opportunity for pilots of the Alaska Air National Guard this week, with five HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter pilots training on takeoffs and landings from the moving warship as it cruised into Anchorage.  Maj. Brian Kile was one of the Pave Hawk pilots who became deck-landing certified during the Tuesday training with the Anchorage. He said it was the first opportunity in 15 years that members of the ANG's 210th Rescue Squadron have had to land on a Navy ship.

A plane crash near Healy Wednesday in which one person suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries is being responded to by Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Air National Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board. Alaska National Guard spokesperson Maj. Guy Hayes says the crash occurred above the Surprise Glacier, about 181 miles southwest of Fairbanks. Guardsmen were alerted by troopers after someone reported the incident from a satellite phone. The crash reportedly involved a pilot who was picking up a hunter and crashed on landing.

Two people on board a plane that crashed on Knik Glacier were rescued by an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew Friday afternoon, according to Guard officials. No injuries were reported in the crash. Alaska ANG Staff Sgt. Karima Turner says the Federal Aviation Administration relayed an alert about the crash to the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, which dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to the crash site. The helicopter was able to land on the glacier and safely pick up the plane's occupants, although the extent of their injuries wasn't determined until the Pave Hawk arrived.

Today Sand Lake community members and the Alaska Air National Guard re-dedicated a flag pole that once stood outside Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage. "When Kulis moved across town we decided that we needed to have something, that represented Kulis because it was such an important part of this part of town for 56 years," said Tastee Freez owner Rich Owens, who organized the ceremony. The Alaska Air National guard moved from Kulis, it's home since 1955, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson earlier this year.

On Wednesday, two C-130's carrying members of the Alaska Air National Guard 176th wing took off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and headed for Afghanistan for a three month long deployment. 60 men and women left on the flights, 80 additional Air Guardsmen are scheduled to leave on three C-130's in the coming days.  "This is the culmination of a lot of work, and as they make their way across the world they will be in for a lot more work when they arrive," said Brigadier General Chuck Foster, Commander of Alaska' Air National Guard 176th Wing.

In an effort to show appreciation for Alaska's service members on Armed Forces Day, the 176th Air National Guard held a ceremony Saturday to honor current and fallen airmen. But today's event was extra special to the 176th wing because it's celebrating Armed Forces Day for the first time since it left Kulis Air National Guard Base in February, and this dedication is one more step towards calling Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson it's official home. More than 100 people came to watch the dedication of Memorial Park, which is located on base.  Several aircraft were brought to the park from Kulis as a salute to our nation's heroes.

The Alaska Air National Guard only helped staff a health clinic in Hayneville, Ala. for a week -- but for patients in the small, rural town it’s made a world of difference. They were beneficiaries of the U.S. Defense Department’s Innovative Readiness Training program, which sends medical professionals to unfamiliar places and pairs them up with people they’ve never worked with before, to simulate what would happen in a real crisis. A total of 70 service members were involved.

Five volunteers with the American Red Cross of Alaska are heading south to help victims of the recent deadly tornados and floods, and up to four more may be sent in the next day or two, according to Red Cross of Alaska spokeswoman Katie Bender. The volunteers will assist in the relief efforts in Alabama and northern Mississippi. Deployments usually last about three weeks but could last longer depending on the need, said Bender. Their primary goal is to take care of the people affected by sheltering those who lost their homes, and providing meals to those who have been displaced.