WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 445th Airlift Wing wrapped up another successful year of flying operations, deployments, training and volunteer service.
The wing continues to be one of the most active Air Force Reserve Command C-17 wings, flying more missions in Fiscal Year 2022 than any other AFRC unit equipped C-17 organization. The 89th Airlift Squadron flew 1,340 sorties for a total of approximately 4,400 flying hours, consisting of 172 missions. The wing transported 6,883 passengers and delivered more than 19.9 million pounds of cargo.
In calendar year 2022, the 445th deployed over 160 Reserve Citizen Airmen throughout the United States and to countries that included Bahrain, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Niger, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
In March 2022, the 445th participated in a Unit Effectiveness Inspection, earning an overall effectiveness rating. The wing’s Inspector General Inspections office garnered two highly effective ratings and joined nine other teams selected as superior performers.
To maintain operational readiness, over 180 Airmen from the 445th AW and members of the U.S. Army’s 5th Battalion, 159th Regiment General Support Aviation Battalion, from Fort Knox, Kentucky, participated in an aeromedical patient movement exercise, Operation Merciful Valkyrie, from Sept. 11-14, 2022. Four C-17 Globemaster IIIs conducted eight launches.
Additionally this year, Airmen from 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron participated in Operation Walking Shield Innovative Readiness Training in Hoopa, California from August 2-15, 2022. The Hoopa community received more than $500,000 in medical, dental, and vision care. The providers saw over 850 patients and provided more than 1,000 prescriptions.
In October 2022, three 87th Aerial Port Squadron Airmen deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, used 3D printers to solve operational shortfalls in their spare time. They developed 3D-printed prototypes and brainstormed new ways to more efficiently accomplish tasks. They tackled a project that impacted over 120 Airmen on a daily basis. In one of the dorm buildings, six of the eight showers were unusable due to broken faucet knobs. After about 35 man-hours of designing, printing, testing and adjusting, the trio installed faucet handles on all six previously inoperable showers.