By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A couple of military aircraft from the Air National Guard base in St. Joseph flew missions in Europe this summer, indirectly tied to European efforts to aid those suffering from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Colonel John Cluck, commander of the 139th Airlift Group, says the unit based at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph had two aircraft in Europe this summer, pressed into service by the National Guard Bureau.
“The 139th and the 180th Airlift Squadron; we had what we refer to as our aviation package, which is a couple of aircraft and maintenance supporting elements that’s required for them to operate,” Cluck tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “They were in Europe for the summer and some of those missions bled into some support for relief efforts and things of that nature.”
Cluck says the St. Joseph-based airlift group flew in support of European efforts to come to the aid of refugees from Ukraine, fleeing the war Russia began in February.
Cluck says the 139th and the 180th responded as they always do: they raised their hand and said they would do it.
“They were basically back-filling missions in Europe that supported all aspects of operations over there,” according to Cluck. “You really can’t do that without helping out in the other causes.”
While the United States has provided relief and military aid to Ukraine, it is not directly involved in the conflict.
“I’m sure there were many opportunities to fly in and around the area, clearly not in Ukraine or anything like that, but certainly I’m sure that there was some support through that.”
Cluck says the crews carried whatever European allies requested them to carry.
“It’s all sort of ancillary stuff, you know, as the relief supplies come in and they need moved around the European Theater,” Cluck says the 139th and 180th planes carried medicine, food, tents, cots, and related supplies. “It was that sort of thing.”
After completing their mission, the crews have returned home.