Air Force RC-26 aircraft used to assist Hurricane Katrina Recovery Operations

Blackanthem.com, ELLINGTON FIELD, Texas, September 08, 2005

The 147th Fighter Wing's assigned RC-26, normally tasked to assist law enforcement in a counter drug role, has now been tasked to assist both State and Federal officials in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The RC-26's mission, while primarily used as a counter-drug aircraft, has recently expanded to cover a wide array of law enforcement and military operations.

In the immediate aftermath of the devastating hurricane, the 147th Fighter Wing dispatched the RC-26 to fly photo missions over New Orleans and the surrounding areas to provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers with detailed photographs of the devastation, particularly the numerous breached levees in the city. The photographs provided officials with a comprehensive overview of the effects of the massive flooding.

The 147th Fighter Wing RC-26 pilots also ferried Louisiana State officials, such as the State Speaker of the House, Secretary of Natural Resources, and officials from the Governor's officer to provide them a broad visual perspective of the devastation. Their mission is expanding to provide search and rescue support for local law enforcement officials using the plane's infrared video equipment at night.

The RC-26 supports counter-drug operations at the request of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. After the September 11 attacks, the mission expanded to provide a wide array of additional activities, such as counter narcotics activities overseas, Presidential support, and humanitarian missions. Major Joe Lewis, National Guard Bureau Counter-drug Aviation Branch Chief, said, "Nobody is better equipped to roll into that and tie-in with law enforcement than us. Period. Nobody else speaks their language and speaks Department of Defense like us. If the law enforcement infrastructure hadn't been so crippled in Louisiana, we'd be all over the place, and we likely will be as they establish a flow again as well".

As requested by the Governor of Louisiana and approved by Governor Perry, Texas and a host of other States are providing uniquely capable civil and military assets to assist in recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. The 147th Fighter Wing, one of three Air National Guard units in Texas, falls under the authority of Governor Perry and all three Wings have been deeply engaged since the start of recovery operations.

Source : Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs