×

Amid hurricanes, 910th Airlift Wing battles mosquitoes

A U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing, based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station starts engines prior to taking off from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The C-130s have been spraying since Oct. 20, 2020, and have treated nearly half a million acres to date.

Staff report

Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft and about 85 reservists from the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, are deployed to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to conduct mosquito control.

The planes are conducting aerial spray missions over southern Louisiana. The heavy rains from the recent hurricanes have resulted in increasing numbers of mosquitoes, which can spread disease and also hinder recovery workers.

The C-130s are scheduled to spray in Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, and Vermilion parishes.

“The 910th is here to assist the people of Louisiana in their time of need by providing our unique aerial spray capability,” said Lt. Col. Sean Grenier, commander for the 910th’s mission flying out of Barksdale. “We are prepared to conduct spray operations as long as it takes to treat the areas assigned to us …”

Their air crews including pilots, flight engineers, navigators, loadmasters who also double as aerial spray operators and an entomologist (insect studies) have been spraying since Oct. 20. They’ve treated more than 900,000 acres.

At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and upon approval by the Department of Defense, U.S. Northern Command activated the 910th to assist civil authorities in Louisiana.

They are scheduled to spray more than 1 million acres and will be in Louisiana as long as that takes.

“Our military men and women are privileged to be able to assist the interagency team and people of Louisiana as they recover from the recent hurricanes Delta and Laura,” said Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce, commander, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern. “The Air Force Reserve’s 910th Aerial Spray Flight normally conducts spray missions at dusk and nighttime hours using night vision technology when pest insects are most active — and the 910th’s men and women are longtime pros at this mission.”

On the ground are additional entomologists, operations support mission planners, aerial spray maintenance, communications, aircraft maintenance, squadron aviation resource managers, aircrew flight equipment and a command team including a mission commander, director of operations, a mission first sergeant and public affairs.

Air Forces Northern, U.S. Northern Command’s U.S. Air Force air component command, is the Department of Defense operational lead for the mission.

The 2nd Bomb Wing, host unit at Barksdale, provided the 910th with use of facilities and logistical support during the spray operations.

The 910t is home to the Department of Defense’s only aerial spray capability and dedicated aerial spray maintenance flight. The last time the 910th supported FEMA hurricane recovery efforts with its aerial spray mission was 2017, when they treated 2.7 million acres of affected areas following Hurricane Harvey.

news@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today