Story and photos by Senior Airman Kristof Rixmann
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs May 21, 2020
In response to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules out of Ramstein Air Base, assisted the Italian government in transporting medical and other relief supplies between supply hubs in Milan and Rome, Italy, May 13.
An Italian air force member stands by as a pallet of medical supplies from Milan, Italy is offloaded in Rome, May 13. In response to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules assisted the Italian government in transporting medical supplies between hubs in Milan and Rome, Italy.
The mission is the first in a planned series of U.S. Air Forces in Europe mobility support operations to Italy and helped redistribute more than 15,000 pounds of coronavirus disease 2019 relief supplies, including KN-95 masks, surgical gowns and COVID-19 test kits between Italian distribution hubs.
“One of the things this coronavirus pandemic has revealed is the importance of our European partnerships as we fight this invisible enemy together with our NATO allies and partners,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark August, 86th Airlift Wing commander. “It has also reinforced what we have known for a long time — airlift is always in high demand in any crisis or contingency, and professional airlift is our specialty.”
An Italian cargo loader aligns itself with an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules before loading more than 15,000 pounds of medical supplies, destined for Rome, in Milan, Italy, May 13. The 86th AW C-130J helped redistribute a variety of Italian coronavirus disease 2019 relief supplies, including KN-95 masks, surgical gowns and COVID-19 test kits.
This delivery, along with a variety of other DOD support efforts, demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the global pandemic response and highlights the close partnership between the two NATO allies.
The mission also marked another successful use of NATO’s Rapid Air Mobility initiative, activated in March to help NATO military aircraft quickly transit through member nations during contingency response operations.
More than 15,000 pounds of medical supplies were loaded into an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules during a support mission to Milan, Italy, May 13. The medical supplies shown flew to Rome, a major distribution hub, where they were needed to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 in Italy.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman David Tan, 86th Operations Support Squadron aircraft loadmaster, guides an Italian cargo loader into the back of an 86th Airlift Wing C-130J Super Hercules during a support mission in Milan, Italy, May 13. This support mission, which successfully delivered more than 15,000 pounds of medical supplies to major distribution hubs in Italy, is part of the Rapid Air Mobility Program; a NATO initiative developed to decrease military aircraft clearance approvals to under 72 hours for all NATO nations.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman David Tan (right), 86th Operations Support Squadron aircraft loadmaster, reviews manifest details with an Italian Air Force 1st Warrant Officer during a support mission to help the Italian government transport medical supplies to Milan, Italy, May 13. The mission is the first in a planned series of U.S. Air Forces in Europe mobility support operations to Italy.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Thomas Morgan, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, speaks with two Italian Air Force personnel after more than 15,000 pounds of medical supplies were delivered to a distribution hub during a support mission to Rome, Italy, May 13. This mission was part of the Rapid Air Mobility Program, which provides military aircraft clearance approvals in under 72 hours for all NATO nations. This program demonstrates the commitment between NATO allies as the world moves through this crisis together.
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