Georgia and Kentucky Air Guard drop 82nd Airborne for NATO exercise Noble Ledger

Photo By Charles Delano | U.S. Army jumpmasters from the 82nd Airborne Division inspect soldiers prior to boarding C130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard and 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Sept. 23, 2014 at Gardermoen Military Air Station in Oslo, Norway. Airmen from the Georgia and Kentucky Air Guard dropped paratroopers on an airfield near Rena, Norway as part of a Operation Noble Ledger. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Delano/released)  

GARDERMOEN, 3, NORWAY

09.24.2014

Story by Master Sgt. Charles Delano 

165th Airlift Wing

GARDERMOEN, Norway - Airmen from the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard and 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard transported 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers to an airfield outside of Oslo, Norway, Sept. 23, 2014, as part of Operation Noble Ledger. A total of three C-130H Hercules aircraft dropped 110 paratroopers and performed an engine running offload of an additional 20 soldiers to a drop zone in Rena, Norway.

Noble Ledger tested the cohesiveness of about 6500 U.S., German, Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch soldiers in the field. The multinational cadre is part of a larger 13,000 member NATO Response Force that conducts humanitarian and armed conflict missions throughout NATO countries. The 82nd Airborne’s mission for this exercise consisted of seizing an enemy occupied zone and holding it for 24 hours until reinforcements arrived. “The airlift portion of Noble Ledger is important because it provides the Army with realistic logistics for delivering soldiers to combat zones,” said Lt. Col. Dave Flynn, 123rd Airlift Wing pilot. “It reflects the synergy the Air National Guard provides to the Total Force.”

For the airmen of the 165th Airlift Wing and 123rd Airlift Wing along with soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, this NATO exercise provided another opportunity to airdrop paratroopers in an unfamiliar drop zone. “I am thrilled to have participated in the two airdrops in the Netherlands which honored the World War II paratroopers and also for providing air support for this important NATO exercise,” said Capt. Alan Ratliff, 165th Airlift Wing Pilot. “I am proud to represent the state of Georgia in missions around the world.” All three units performed commemorative airdrops for Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands Sept. 16-18, 2014.

• Date Taken: 09.24.2014
• Date Posted: 09.24.2014 16:53
• Story ID: 143160
• Location: GARDERMOEN, 3, NO