Ramstein Airmen keep wings flying over Normandy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NORMANDY, France --  The 70th anniversary of D-Day is June 6, 2014, and includes four C-130J Super Hercules and more than 60 Ramstein Airmen who will participate in week-long activities to honor the sacrifice made by the brave veterans who stormed Axis-occupied France.

Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing's 37th Airlift Squadron are providing airlift and flyover support, and Airmen from the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing's Air Mobility Squadron is helping control airfield operations to ensure all air assets supporting D-Day events can successfully take to the skies over Normandy, France.

Alongside Ramstein are five allied nations, four partner Air Force major commands, the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), and for the first time since D-Day, a C-47 Skytrain, designated Whiskey 7.

Planners from the 37th AS have worked many months organizing and coordinating air movements to de-conflict schedules and provide flyover and airdrop support for 27 different ceremonies during the week. To get the aircraft into the air to do those missions requires a variety of Airmen from different career field to ensure success of D-Day events.

Tech. Sgt. Marquita Wilson, 435th AMS contingency response controller, and Sylacauga, Alabama, native, is one such Airman.

"I'm responsible for tracking many incoming and outgoing aircraft," said Wilson. "We provide the airfield and the Airmen working on it with an up-to-date forecast of aircraft arrivals."

Wilson noted they always watch out for anything that can cause delays and affect other aircraft.

"We keep operations on the airfield prepared for anything coming into our area," said Wilson. "Without us, there would be a lot more guess work involved."

Wilson said there might be many long days ahead of her, but this opportunity keeps her running.

"What really motivates me is working to make a piece of history and ensuring we honor our veterans accordingly," said Wilson.