Dyess Airmen return from deployment to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Miller
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Members assigned to the 317th Airlift Wing returned to Dyess, Sept. 18, on C-130J Super Hercules’ after a deployment to Afghanistan.

While deployed, members of the 40th Airlift Squadron and 317th Airlift Wing worked under the flag of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and the 455th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron which operated in direct support of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield,
Afghanistan. The deployed Airmen supported airdrop missions in support of the Special Operations Forces, air and land cargo movements and critical medevac of U.S. and Afghan personnel.

“Airmen of the 317th Airlift Wing proved yet again their tactical expertise across a wide range of mission sets in the dynamic combat landscape,” said Lt. Col. Blair Allen, 774th EAS commander. “The missions tackled this summer were diverse, challenged and pushed all parties to their maximum capabilities for a combat airlift unit.”

Over the course their deployment, the 40th AS and 317th AW flew more than 2,100 sorties, carrying 12,500 passenger and 17 million tons of cargo throughout their area of responsibility.

After four long months of deployment, the C-130Js landed here and family members rushed onto the flightline to be reunited with their loved ones.

“I missed them a lot,” said Capt. Ryan Rogl, 40th AS pilot. “We talked every day on the phone and FaceTime, but having them back in my arms again, it’s special.”