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Network news anchor gets a closer look at military mission

  • Published
  • By Maj. Bill Walsh
  • 315th Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  ABC World News anchor Charles Gibson experienced something March 28 his nephew has been talking about for years - a weekend training mission in a C-17 Globemaster III.

Mr. Gibson traveled from New York to Charleston AFB and flew with his nephew, Maj. Rob Oswald, the aircraft commander on the 317th Airlift Squadron mission.

"I still think of him as an 8 year old playing with his toys and now he's flying this huge airplane. Kind of makes me nervous," Mr. Gibson said laughing as he sat in the cockpit during an air refueling.

Mr. Gibson speaks to millions of viewers nightly about news from around the world and now has some real-world experience to use as a foundation, especially for military stories.

"In the last 18 years, I have always wanted to do something to show (my uncle) the training that I have received," said Major Oswald. "I also wanted show him the different capabilities of the aircraft, the stuff that impressed me when I started flying the C-17. It was just nice to tell him about our mission."

Mr. Gibson has had lunch with the president, driven the new lunar rover at NASA and interviewed world leaders but he puts his experience in the C-17 right up there on his best list.

"This is a great experience," he said, noting how quiet the airplane was during the flight. "It's amazing how fast it gets off the ground for the size."

Mr. Gibson experienced a standard training mission that included an air refueling and engines running offload.

"It was an incredible experience to get to fly with a family member who's seen me in different stages of childhood and finally gets to see what I can do now to help out the Air Force," said Major Oswald.

Mr. Gibson spent time with the entire crew and took pictures with everyone who wanted to share a few moments with the famous American. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)