TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- More than 200 operators and maintenance members of the 552nd Air Control Wing returned home to Tinker Air Force Base Saturday, April 16, 2022 from a deployment to Southwest Asia.
“We could not be more proud of this war-fighting team,” said 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron commander Lt. Col. James Capra. “Not only did they provide critical airborne command and control—they did it all while in harm’s way. To top it off, they did this while executing the largest E-3G base movement in 20 years with seamless precision. This group truly epitomizes the best of the World Famous Operations and Maintenance team,” said Capra.
Hundreds of friends and family members were on hand, anxiously awaiting the return of their warriors. Equally as enthusiastic were the returning Airmen.
“I’m looking forward to returning to normalcy,” said Capt. Michael Dunlap, pilot with the 963rd AACS. “All I have thought about is my family while I have been gone. I’m just really looking forward to spending time with them.”
Likewise, Senior Airman Ashley Fuentes, airborne mission systems operator with the 963rd AACS, expressed the joy felt as she was greeted by loved ones.
“To be home is the most incredible feeling after having gone out there and executing the mission,” she said. “Just seeing my friends and family here waiting for me, it just makes me happy.”
The 963rd AACS is a component of the 552nd Air Control Wing here. Known as ‘Americas Wing’, the 552nd ACW is responsible to the commander of Air Combat Command for the operations, maintenance, logistics, training, and combat support of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft as well as ground-based Control and Reporting Centers.