Team heads to Chile for air show, not empty-handed

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The plan had been in effect for months -- two F-22 Raptors and about 30 Airmen were to head to Santiago, Chile, for 2010 FIDAE Air and Trade Show that would mark the debut of the F-22 Raptor to South America.

However, after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit the country only weeks before the show, damaging hundreds of thousands of homes, the "Fightin' Forty-Niners" knew they could not go empty-handed.

"If we can do something, we're going to do it," said Maj. August Pfluger, 49th Operations Support Squadron assistant director of operations. "Whatever that impact may be remains to be seen, but we're going to offer every bit of support."

In a collaboration spearheaded by the 49th OSS, more than 5,000 pounds of supplies were gathered, packed and transported to Chile in a KC-10 aircraft March 19 with the 30-man crew, in lieu of some extra personal gear.

"We asked everybody on board to reduce their own personal baggage -- to bring the minimal amount of clothes and whatever else they would need -- so we could put about thousands of pounds worth of the equipment on the KC-10," said Major Pfluger.

After the earthquake hit the country, members of the 49th Fighter Wing teamed-up to figure out how they could help, and just days before the team of Airmen and Raptors were set to leave, their outline of ideas became a concrete plan.

"When we started coordinating with USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) on the ground, they informed us that the real need was for construction supplies to aid in rebuilding the damaged homes and shelters of Chile," said Senior Master Sgt. Rufino Gonzalez, 49th OSS superintendant. "Once U.S. Southern Command found out what we were trying to do, they donated $20,000 to Holloman to make it possible for us to procure non-powered building supplies for delivery to Chile."

With the deadline quickly-approaching, members from the 49th OSS, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 49th Comptrollers Squadron and 49th Contracting Squadron went to work.

More than $13,000 was spent in the local community at local hardware stores, said Major Pfluger.

"The supplies will go to USAID representatives and then in conjunction with the (U.S.) Military Group at the embassy, they will determine which areas of Chile need them the most," the major explained.

Major Pfluger, who is part of the crew in Chile, said on top of providing supplies, the team who were sent as maintenance and support personnel for the air show had already offered a helping hand.

"I know they have several things scheduled for us, so while we're there we are not going to be sitting by idly. We will actively pursue getting into the clean-up effort," he said.

Although the team does not expect the supplies to solve any major problems, the 49th FW commander said it fills him with a great sense of pride to see Team Holloman go above and beyond the mission at hand.

"The 49th Fighter Wing is honored to assist the people of Chile as they begin the reconstruction process of their nation. The initiative of Team Holloman members to supply equipment and material, while also promoting relations between our two countries, is remarkable and heartening," said Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th FW commander. "Even though we were limited on space and were here for another mission, the true success of this trip will be measured in the number of Chileans we were able to help."