Letter to Michael Donley, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and General Norton Schwartz, Re: RC-12 Aircraft for New Mission at Springfield 183rd

Letter

Durbin, Obama Request RC-12 Aircraft for New Mission at Springfield 183rd

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today asked the Air Force to establish a new RC-12 flying mission for the National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Illinois. The Illinois Senators recently learned that the Air Force is planning to acquire a number of RC-12 aircraft to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts, but has not specified where a new RC-12 mission would be located.

"Today, the 183rd could convert to and accept a new RC-12 mission. The Wing's experienced pilots and support personnel could be retrained quickly and the existing hangars could be converted easily to house the RC-12. Unless a new flying mission is soon identified, however, these existing resources may be lost," said the Illinois members. "The timing is right for a new flying mission for the 183rd. We urge you to consider an RC-12 mission for the 183rd."

Today's letters were sent to Acting Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Norton Schwartz. Durbin and Obama have been reaching out to several National Guard and Air Force leaders over the past year asking for help in their effort to keep the 183rd firefighter unit in Springfield and secure a new flying mission. On August 26, Durbin and Obama announced a one year extension of the firefighter unit through September 2009.

Text of letter appears below:

October 1, 2008

The Honorable Michael B. Donley
Acting Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington DC 20330-1670

General Norton Schwartz
HQ USAF/CC
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington DC 20330-1670

Dear Secretary Donley / General Schwartz:

We have previously written to you to regarding a new flying mission for the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Illinois. We understand that the Air Force has imminent plans to acquire a number of RC-12 aircraft in support of its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts. As the Wing would be an excellent location for any number of flying missions, we urge you to consider assigning some of these aircraft to a new RC-12 flying mission for the 183rd.

As you know, the 183rd has lost its F-16 mission as part of the 2005 BRAC. Although the fifteen F-16 aircraft have been reassigned, the Wing retains the trained personnel and infrastructure that a new RC-12 mission would require. Today, the 183rd could convert to and accept a new RC-12 mission. The Wing's experienced pilots and support personnel could be retrained quickly and the existing hangars could be converted easily to house the RC-12. Unless a new flying mission is soon identified, however, these existing resources may be lost.

There is no doubt that the RC-12 aircraft will be deployed regularly while American forces are engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon return of the aircraft to domestic use, the Illinois Air National Guard will be able to use the RC-12's ISR capabilities to further its homeland defense and disaster relief efforts. These capabilities already have been used successfully in other National Guard domestic missions.

The last F-16 aircraft left Springfield last week. The timing is right for a new flying mission for the 183rd. We urge you to consider an RC-12 mission for the 183rd and we look forward to your timely reply.

Sincerely,
Richard Durbin
United States Senator

Barack Obama
United States Senator

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