Final MC-12W Liberty from Kandahar Airfield returns to Beale AFB Published Sept. 22, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The remaining MC-12W Liberty aircraft from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, returned to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 22, 2014, after the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kandahar deactivated earlier this month. The squadron has contributed to Operation Enduring Freedom since May 2010, providing real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance directly supporting ground forces. The support included convoy overwatch and locating high-value targets. "Our accomplishments were tremendous," said Lt. Col. Thomas Yeager, the prior 361st ERS director of operations. "My hat's off to the young men and women who support this program, working around the clock in rotations, some deploying four or five times with three thousand plus combat hours." The squadron executed more than 25,000 air tasking order sorties, flew 115,000 combat flight hours, provided overwatch for more than 50,000 friendly forces, and scanned approximately 13,000 kilometers of area. According to Yeager, the MC-12W Liberty has been the most requested asset to support ground troops in Afghanistan. Though MC-12W Liberty aircrew members returned home from Kandahar, NATO forces will remain behind to continue the mission. Some information courtesy of 455th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.