Lt. Gen. Bradley visits reservists during May UTA

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tom Talbert
  • 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  At a ceremony May 5, Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, the top general in the Air Force Reserve, presented the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award to 442nd Fighter Wing members who were deployed from May until mid-September 2006 in Afghanistan as part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The general, who once commanded the 442nd in the 1980s, was quick to note in his remarks that even though more than 300 wing members deployed and received this award, the entire wing was responsible for the exceptional recognition.

"In the over 200 hours of flying time it took to get your planes from here to Bagram Airfield, you didn't have a single glitch," said the chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command.

"That tells us one very impressive thing," he said. "These airplanes were in great shape when they left and the entire 442nd made that happen. Your support is what made those jets get there code 1."

After congratulating the entire wing, General Bradley went on to speak about the difficult mission of those deployed and how they stood out among their peers.

"We had 40 percent of the airplanes at Bagram and we (the Air Force Reserve) flew 60 percent of the combat missions," the general said. "That means our airplanes were in better shape."

General Bradley went on to recall his visit with members of the 442nd while deployed to Afghanistan.

"I drove out on the flight line and down the taxiway to where the airplanes were parked and half a mile away I knew which planes were ours because they look just like they do here today - painted and washed - a big difference from the others," he said. "We've got fabulous professionals with years of experience that truly set us apart."

General Bradley pointed out in his remarks that while members of the 442nd were at Bagram, their Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment set records in weapons employment, dropping several times the amount of ordnance in Afghanistan that was dropped during the same period in Iraq.

In presenting the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, General Bradley thanked the members of the 442nd and called on them to remain steadfast.

"Stick with us as we ask to you to do more in the years to come," he said.

The general ended by reflecting on his past with the 442nd and look toward the future.

"The last few years, we've asked more from our reservists than in the entire forty years I have been in our Air Force and I couldn't be more proud of any outfit than I am of this one," he said. "I still believe you are the best wing in the Air Force."