Air Force support of Texas wildfires continues

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas: A C-130 from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., equipped with a U.S.D.A. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System flies toward a wildfire west of Austin, Texas, April 17. Six MAFFS C-130s, deployed by U.S. Northern Command to Texas, have conducted several aerial firefighting missions over the Texas fires in the past two days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ)

Air Force support of Texas wildfires continues

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas: A lead plane from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service guides a C-130 from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., toward a wildfire west of Austin, Texas, April 17. U.S. Northern Command has deployed six C-130 aircraft equipped with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System to support the fight against ongoing wildfires in the area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ)

Firefighting operations continue in Texas

Airmen from California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing and Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing gather at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas to prepare for wildfire fighting operations, April 18, 2011. The Airmen maintain and operate the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) housed aboard a C-130 Hercules which is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in under 5 seconds. The wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Firefighting operations continue in Texas

Airmen from California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing and Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing gather at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas to prepare for wildfire fighting operations, April 18, 2011. The Airmen maintain and operate the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) housed aboard a C-130 Hercules which is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in under 5 seconds. The wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Mississippi Airmen join CONR team

Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean, Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) commander presents an ‘initial cadre’ patch to a technical sergeant assigned to the 286th Air Operations Group at Meridian Air National Guard Base, Miss. The commander distributed the one-of-a-kind patches to each member of the group during a stand-up ceremony held at the base April 8, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Susan A. Romano)

Mississippi Airmen join CONR team

Maj. Gen. William Freeman (left), Mississippi’s Adjutant General and Maj. Gen. Alex Roberts (second from left) commander of the Mississippi Air National Guard, preside over the presentation of the guidon from Col. William Q. Platt (center facing), the new commander for the 286th Air Operations Group at Meridian Air National Guard Base, Miss., April 8, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Susan A. Romano)