VMFA-251 Back in the Air

Over the last couple of days, I've heard VMFA-251's F/A-18s back in the air after their recent deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. Like VFA-86, who also deployed on the Enterprise, VMFA-251 has resumed using their same Base and Tac frequencies now that they have returned to MCAS Beaufort.

313.800 - VMFA-251 Base
290.000 - VMFA-251 Tac 1
327.475 - VMFA-251 Tac 2


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Bulldog MOA Controversy

http://www.themillennews.com/news/2007/1226/Front_Page/006.html

While it is not mentioned by name in the article above, the Bulldog MOA is the military training airspace mentioned in the article. It seems that expansion of the Bulldog MOA airspace is not popular in Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Jenkins Counties.

There are two addresses (one for the ACC and one for the FAA) listed to send comments to on the airpsace expansion. My suspicion is that the Millen News is looking for people to write in opposing the plans, but there is on reason folks couldn't write supporting the plans either.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

VMFA-122 "Werewolves"

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/story/129343.html

VMFA-122 at MCAS Beaufort have become the "Werewolves." Previously known as the "Crusaders," they have dropped that nickname prior to going on a deployment to the Middle East out of cultural sensitivities. The Crusades have quite a negative connotation in many areas of that part of the world.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

New 93rd Wing at Moody AFB

http://newsblaze.com/story/20071208095436tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html

The USAF is standing up a new wing at Moody AFB that will consolidate command for the 3rd ASOG and 18th ASOG, which handle Tactical Air Control Party duties and the 820th Security Forces Group. The new wing will be the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing.

Interestingly enough the 93rd Wing was the JSTARS Wing at Robins AFB before it was combined with the 116th Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard to become the blended 116th Air Control Wing.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

LOCKHEED 99 Visits Hunter AAF

LOCKHEED 99, a C-5M from Lockheed at Dobbins JRB Atlanta visited Hunter AAF for fuel this afternoon after doing some testing out in W-157. I managed to get this photo as it approached Runway 28. LOCKHEED 99 used 120.950 with SEALORD while in W-157 and used 124.975, Hunter Tower and 126.200, Hunter Base Ops while at Hunter AAF.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

New Fire Department Talkgroups to Monitor

There are a couple of new Fire Department talkgroups to listen to on the Chatham-Effingham TRS now. Isle of Hope Fire Department appears to have a department channel and Pooler Fire Department has a new fireground channel.

Isle of Hope FD has been heard on Analog TG 7760. A good time to catch activity on this talkgroup is on Monday nights, which is their drill night (although I haven't heard many callsigns being used). That said, I think I've been hearing Isle of Hope FD using either 7## or 17## numbers for personnel and 7# numbers for their apparatus. If this is the case, it could be a move to fit into the numbering scheme that the westside Fire Departments are using (17## would be a good pick because there is no county Fire Department and Isle of Hope has no police department to base the FD numbers off of). I would love to hear from anyone that catches the callsigns or designators that Isle of Hope FD is using for their personnel and apparatus.

Pooler FD has been using TG 7888 for a fireground channel. I've heard their units switch there for tactical traffic as well as unit-to-unit traffic off of the Dispatch talkgroup 5424.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Moody AFB A-10s Increase Activity at Townsend Range

A-10s from the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA have become frequent visitors to Townsend Range in the last few months. The increase in A-10 activity correlates to the increasing number of A-10s that arrived at Moody from their former home base of Pope AFB. That move is now supposed to be complete, although I understand that the number of A-10s at Moody will be fluctuating due to aircraft being upgraded to A-10C standards.

Unfortunately I have not been able to ascertain which squadron the A-10s have belonged to as they have worked at Townsend, but I have begun a callsign and frequency listing for the 23rd Wing A-10s:

Callsigns:
BANZAI
BEAST
CLAW
DUDE
EASY
MUNG
NAIL
NARD
PABLO
PORK
PYTHON
SAGA
SHARK
TIGER

Air-to-Air Frequencies:
133.550
138.150
139.275
140.150
140.200
143.150
143.700
143.750


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net