Grissom is Refuge For Virginia Fighter Wing
Image of F-22 Raptor Courtesy: U.S. Air Force
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowOne of the state’s largest military installations is serving as temporary home for aircraft and service members avoiding the expected effects of Hurricane Joaquin. Grissom Air Reserve Base, which straddles Cass and Miami counties, has welcomed more than 40 F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons from the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
Around 100 personnel are at Grissom as the U.S. Air Force takes precaution from the potentially dangerous storm that could make landfall along the East Coast.
Grissom is home to 434th Air Refueling Wing, which is the largest KC-135 Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. 434th Air Refueling Wing Commander Colonel Doug Schwartz says "we have a responsibility to the public to protect taxpayer assets from potential harm. The best way we can do that is to get them out of harm’s way. We dust off and roll out our proven reception plan every hurricane season in the event it’s needed. We’re ready to welcome them to Grissom and to safety."
The 1st Fighter Wing temporarily relocated to Grissom in 2011.
