Home > Forum > Articles > June, 2009 > U.S. European Command supports Paris Air Show

U.S. European Command supports Paris Air Show

1 2 3 4

LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France — Vice Admiral Richard K. Gallagher, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, chats with Lt. Col. Michael Egan, C-130J Super Hercules aircraft commander from the 39th Rescue Squadron from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Lt. Col. Egan's unit was chosen to exhibit their C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the 2009 Paris Air Show 15-21 Jun. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)

LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France — Gen. Roger A. Brady, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, shakes hands and thanks U.S. Army Private Domenick Barela for his participation in the Paris Air Show. Private Barela is a team member of the Bravo 57th Air Defense Artillery unit based out of Kaiserslautern, Germany. The 57th Air Defense Artillery exhibited their Patriot Missile Air Defense System June 15-21 at the Paris Air Show 2009. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)

LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France — Vice Admiral Richard K. Gallagher, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, meets and chats with operators and maintainers of a C-130J Super Hercules search and rescue aircraft. The aircraft and its crew are assigned to the 39th Rescue Squadron from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. The C-130J is one of several Department of Defense aircraft chosen for exhibition June 15-21 at the 2009 Paris Air Show. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)

LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France — Gen. Roger A. Brady, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, takes time to meet and thank members of the 41st Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pavehawk team for their participation in the Paris Air Show. The 41st Rescue Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. was chosen to display their HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopter for exhibition June 15-21 at the 2009 Paris Air Show. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Gomez)

Related Topics (7)

More related topics

June 16, 2009
Air Force Master Sgt. Bill Gomez

LE BOURGET AIRPORT, France — Fifteen different Department of Defense aircraft arrived at Le Bourget Airport north of Paris, France in preparation for the June 15 start of the week long 100th Anniversary International Paris Air Show. A variety of military aircraft and advanced airborne weapons systems originating from active duty, National Guard and reserve units finished final preparations before Monday's kickoff.

The Air Force, Army and Navy all are also represented; some from local units in the European theater, some from state-side bases as far away as California.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Roger A. Brady, Commander, U. S. Air Forces in Europe, and Navy Vice Adm. Richard K. Gallagher, Deputy Commander U.S. European Command, were in attendance for the opening ceremony of the United States Exhibition Hall, and were proud of the support for the U.S. participation at this year's show.

"We are always excited to show off our forces. I'm pleased to have our aircraft here," Brady said. "The air show is very busy. It's a lot of hard work to do this sort of thing but it is also very important. So, we deeply appreciate those who put the effort in putting the air show together."

Gallagher added, "All of our military forces here in Europe are here to work with our partner nations and with allies, new and those we've had for many years in increasing the capacity to maximize stability and security in the region and also export that as well. So this air show is about working together with partner nations here in Europe to make the environment safe and a little more secure."

Both Brady and Gallagher showed their appreciation to the U.S. pilots, crew personnel and security force working at the Paris Air Show by shaking their hands and talking to them about their efforts that went into the event.

U.S Army Col. Michael S. McGurk, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation Paris, France, said air show preparations began two years ago by requesting air show participation through the Department of Defense. A year ago, specific aircraft were requested and detailed planning began six months ago. Among the details, a request was made to augment the preparation staff by activating reservists that come in for six to nine months to help plan the show. Approximately 70 U.S. Department of Defense personnel are here in support of the event. "In addition to the normal spectators, 150 to 200 distinguished visitors from the Department of Defense and congressional delegations make a stop to admire our nation's military assets and the men and women that keep those assets in flight," McGurk said. "When there are so many moving pieces a lot of coordination is involved, but it seems to have gone real well this year."

Find more articles tagged with:

Comments: 0

Your comment: