CONTACT: DMNA Eric Durr (518) 786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Sep 06, 2007

ON SITE: 109th AW, Maj. Jody Ankabrandt, Public Affairs Officer (518) 344-2396

WHO:

Members of the 109th Airlift Wing and one C-130 Hercules

WHAT:

The last remaining members of the 109th Airlift Wing Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) summer long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom will return with the 109th's combat configured C-130 to the unit's home base in Scotia. In total, more than 28 members of the wing from across various counties in the region deployed to Southwest Asia to provide support for the United State's operations in Afghanistan.

WHEN:

The Aircraft is expected to touch down at approximately Thursday 5:00 p.m. Sept 6, 2007.

WHERE:

Stratton Air National Guard Base, Glenville, NY , Hanger #1

This is the first time since Vietnam that aircraft from the Scotia based unit of the New York Air National Guard flew their own aircraft in a combat theater of operations. In addition to these recent deployments of aircraft, aircrew and maintainers, members of the 109th Airlift Wing have been deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, for, in some cases, up to a year since the outbreak of hostilities. Media members wishing to observe the arrival and talk to Air National Guard personnel and families should contact Major Jody Ankabrandt 109 Airlift Wing Public Affairs Officer at (518) 344-2396 or Lt. Col. Kim Terpenning, 109th Airlift Wing Community Relations Manager in advance at (518) 344-2103. Media members need to bring identification with them to visit the base.