BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - F-15E Strike Eagles taxi down the ramp at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25. F-15Es and KC-135R Stratotankers evacuated from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., due to a hurricane projected to hit the East coast over the next few days. (U.S. Air Force phot by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C - An F-15E Strike Eagle takes-off from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., as part of an evacuation for Hurricane Irene Aug. 25, 2011. By the time the eye of Hurricane Irene reaches the Outer Banks, it will be a category three storm with sustained winds between 111 and 130 miles per hour and a nine to 12 foot storm surge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - F-15E Strike Eagles taxi down the ramp at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25. F-15Es and KC-135R Stratotankers evacuated from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., due to a hurricane projected to hit the East coast over the next few days. (U.S. Air Force phot by Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - An F-15E Strike Eagle prepares to land at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25. Aircraft from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., evacuated to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., due to Hurricane Irene. The hurricane is predicted to hit the East coast over the next few days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - An Airman from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., directs an F-15E Strike Eagle down the ramp on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25. F-15Es, KC-135R Stratotankers and their ground crews evacuated Seymour Johnson AFB due to a hurricane projected to hit the East coast over the next few days. The Airmen flew in on KC-135Rs to help maintain their aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Pilots from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., park their F-15E Strike Eagles on the ramp at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25. F-15Es, KC-135R Stratotankers and their ground crews evacuated due to a hurricane projected to hit the East coast over the next few days. The Airmen flew in on KC-135Rs to help maintain the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony)

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SJAFB evacuates jets to Barksdale AFB as Irene approaches

Published Aug. 26, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C -- As Hurricane Irene approaches, the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., began evacuating approximately 60 F-15E Strike Eagles and eight KC-135R Stratotankers to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25.

In addition to the aircraft sent to Barksdale, the base also sent approximately 350 aircrew and maintainers who are expected to return early next week.

"Officially, this is a hurricane evacuation," said Lt. Col. David Moeller, the 335th Fighter Squadron commander. "The intent is to take the F-15Es and KC-135Rs and get them out of harm's way. Each (F-15E) jet costs approximately $54 million; there is (more than) $5 billion worth of assets here at Seymour Johnson, so this is an attempt to mitigate the risk."

The base's biggest concern is the base personnel and aircraft resources, said Capt. Ryan Rickert, the 4th Operation Support Squadron weather flight commander. Moving the aircraft is important because, with a limited number of hangars, aircraft sitting out on the airfield are exposed to the elements.

"The biggest threat to us would be the winds," Rickert said. "With the conditions being dry lately, the precipitation could impact the county and the base, but we're not seeing the rain fall to be a big deal."

Based on the forecast track, Seymour Johnson AFB is expected to see wind gusts of more than 35 knots, which is approximately 45 miles per hour or more, Rickert said.

"Seymour Johnson is the largest F-15E base in the Air Force," Moeller said. "As such, it has a mission to not only train the young fighter pilots and weapons system officers, but also to maintain combat capability to deploy jets to Iraq and Afghanistan. By moving these jets away from Hurricane Irene's path, we ensure they will be available for the training as well as the operational missions."