427th RS Airmen achieve flying milestone

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Airmen from the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron were recognized during a recent commander's call to acknowledge a flying milestone.

Seventeen Airmen were honored at the event by achieving a combined 20,000 combat hours flying in the MC-12W Liberty.

The Airmen average more than 1,100 combat hours providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces and were given a special 1,000 combat hour patch to commemorate their flying milestone.

"They're an amazing group of men and women," said Lt. Col. David Berg, 427th RS commander. "It's an impressive accomplishment."

The MC-12W Liberty is a medium altitude, twin-engine, turboprop aircraft loaded with state-of-the-art optical and sensor equipment. It utilizes an aircrew of two pilots, sensor operator and a tactical systems operator to build the tactical picture and shape combat operations. It has been supporting OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM since 2009.

Master Sgt. Thomas, 427th RS operations superintendent, emphasized the importance of the milestone and highlighted that 16 of the Airmen recognized are enlisted.
"From the enlisted point of view, it's phenomenal," Thomas said. "Most enlisted aircrews won't see that many hours."

Berg attributed the rapid accumulation in combat hours due to the unique mission of the MC-12W Liberty.

In 2012, the Liberty flew more than 20,016 combat sorties and was directly responsible for the kill or capture of 710 high-value individuals, including senior Taliban leaders, bomb makers and field commanders for the Afghan insurgency. This effort also led to more than 3,000 anti-Afghan forces removed from the battlefield.

Recently, the MC-12W Liberty fleet was recognized with a milestone of its own, achieving 300,000 combat flying hours in less than four years.