KC-135s flee Earl's path
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on September 1, 2010 7:17 PM
Last update on: September 2, 2010 3:11 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL K. DAKOTA
A 916th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker takes flight Wednesday evening, marking the beginning of an aircraft evacuation at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base prompted by approaching Hurricane Earl.
The 916th Air Refueling Wing kicked off an evacuation Wednesday evening that will see the majority of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base aircraft flee the Goldsboro installation's flight line within the next 24 hours, as Hurricane Earl moves ever closer to the North Carolina coast.
Three of the wing's KC-135R Stratotankers -- each loaded with cargo and airmen -- took flight a few hours ago and are expected to be followed by several dozen 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagles sometime Thursday morning -- the rest of the wing's fighter fleet is currently deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
For complete coverage of the evacuation and the storm that prompted it, follow the News-Argus in print and online at www.NewsArgus.com