109th Airlift Wing supports U.S. Antarctic Program

Lt. Col. Matthew Johnson, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica Joint Operations and Plans chief, removes a pin from an LC-130 Hercules on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2019. The LC-130s are transiting from the Stratton Air National Guard Base in New York to the Joint Operating Area in Christchurch, New Zealand, and finally to the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The LC-130s fly to Antarctica in support of the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program, as part of Operation DEEP FREEZE, the U.S. military’s contribution the civilian-managed USAP. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline)

An Airman assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, performs pre-flight inspections on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2019. The LC-130s will be ferried to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, where they operate annually for six months as part of Operation DEEP FREEZE, which provides logistical support to the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). The USAP works closely with other Antarctic programs to include those of New Zealand, Australia and Italy, as well as their respective defense forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline)

An Airman assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, performs pre-flight inspections on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2019. The LC-130s and their crews help provide logistical and operational to the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). Operation DEEP FREEZE is the U.S. military’s contribution to the civilian-managed USAP. Due to Antarctica’s austere environment, Operation DEEP FREEZE is one of the most difficult peacetime missions the U.S military conducts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline)

An Airman assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, performs pre-flight inspections on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2019. All the LC-130 aircraft need to be in theater in a timely fashion to support the National Science Foundation’s mission. Pacific Air Forces operates on a 24-hour basis to provide complete joint operational and logistic support for the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). Operation DEEP FREEZE is the U.S. military’s contribution to the civilian-managed USAP. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline)

An Airman assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York, observes a LC-130 Hercules during pre-flight inspections on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2019. The 2018-2019 Operation DEEP FREEZE season saw the first fully operational deployment of a U.S. Air Force LC-130H fleet modified with new propellers. The new propeller system has helped improve takeoff performance. Operation DEEP FREEZE is the U.S. military’s contribution to the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline)