NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- The final personnel airdrop for the 914th Operations Group took place on February 9, 2017, in Key West, Florida. This was part of the Joint Airborne/Air Transportability Training (JAAT) mission which took place at the Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School.
“Personnel Airdrop is one of the major missions performed by the C-130,” said Lt. Col. Barry Cupples, Jr., Chief Navigator with the 328th Airlift Squadron. “We accomplish 10-15 JAATT’s per year.”
Cupples, who was commander for the final mission, said that dropping actual personnel is an annual requirement. This assignment gives aircrew valuable training which keeps them up to date and combat ready. These missions support U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.
“It is one more final chapter in the proud history of flying C-130's here at Niagara,” said Cupples.
The final C-130 Hercules aircraft is due to leave in early summer as the base transitions to the KC-135 Stratotanker.