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107th Lights Up The Sky

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lloyd
  • 107th Airlift Wing
Niagara Falls Reserve Station --  The 107th Airlift Wing went on another night formation training mission, this time fully loaded with live flares to be used in a training scenario. A "flare" is an aerial infrared countermeasure used to defeat infrared homing (heat seeking) surface-to air or air-to-air missile. The two C-130 aircraft took off from the Niagara Falls Reserve Station and headed north over Lake Ontario to complete their live-fire flare training. Approaching the restricted airspace over the lake reserved for their use, the Navigator readied the defensive systems, the Loadmasters pulled the safety pins, and the Pilots positioned the aircraft in the proper formation position. Once in the area, the aircrew dispensed their flares in reaction to simulated threats, lighting up the skies over Lake Ontario.

"The 107th AW is fortunate to have the Military Operating Area right in our backyard. This affords our aircrews the opportunity to train the way we fight. The lessons learned today, prepare us to operate in hostile environments around the globe." said Lt. Col. Kevin Grom the 107th AW's Chief of Tactics

The 107th continues to train day and night on aerial tactical missions in preparation for "real world" operations. This past year while deployed to Afghanistan this training proved critical, as flares were often used in reaction to threats in theatre while providing tactical airlift support for US and NATO forces.