Media, celebrities receive bird's eye view of mission

Leyna Nguyen, a news anchor and reporter for Los Angeles television stations KCAL and KCBS, interviews Senior Airman Terry Mossbarger during a flight aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker Nov. 12 from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., The media flight was part of Air Force Week-Los Angeles. Airman Mossbarger is a boom operator in Air Force Reserve Command's 336th Air Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Rick Sforza)

Media, celebrities receive bird's eye view of mission

A C-17A Globemaster III receives fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during an aerial refueling mission over the Southwest United States, Nov. 12. Both aircraft are from Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., and took part in a media flight for Los Angeles Air Force Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Rick Sforza)

Media, celebrities receive bird's eye view of mission

Published Nov. 17, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California media and Hollywood personalities got a bird's eye view of the Air Force mission on a C-17 Globemaster III flight Nov. 12. The event was part of the build-up to Air Force Week-Los Angeles, which began Nov. 14.

Air Force Week is a way for the Air Force to share its story with the American public. The week-long event includes flight demonstrations, community visits and talks by Air Force officials, and displays providing an up close and personal look at the men and women of the Air Force serving worldwide in defense of freedom.

Maj. Gen. Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force commander, and Brig. Gen. James Melin, 452nd Air Mobility Wing commander, hosted 53 Southern California media and Hollywood personalities at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif.

A highlight of the visit was a flight in an Air Force Reserve Command C-17 Globemaster III that included an aerial refueling by an AFRC KC-135 tanker aircraft.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our Airmen," said Col. Mark Vidmar, director of Air Force Week-Los Angeles. "All sectors of the Southern California community are coming together for Los Angeles' first military week with hundreds of thousands participating in scores of events."

Southern California Air Force bases participating in Air Force Week include Los Angeles Air Force Base, Vandenberg AFB, Edwards AFB, March ARB and Channel Islands Air National Guard Station. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)