First Lt. Daniel Rowland, 50th Airlift Squadron pilot, hugs his wife before he deploys on April 28, 2011, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Airmen and aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron “Red Devils” left for deployment to Southwest Asia. This is the first deployment of Airmen and aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base following an F-2 tornado that struck the base the evening of April 25, 2011, and damaged more than 100 on-base housing units, damaged three C-130 aircraft and blew the roofs off and damaged many buildings in the base's flightline area. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Jim Araos)

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An Airman from the 50th Airlift Squadron performs a preflight inspection before he deploys on April 28, 2011, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Airmen and aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron “Red Devils” leave for deployment to Southwest Asia. This is the first deployment of Airmen and aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base following an F-2 tornado that struck the base the evening of April 25, 2011, and damaged more than 100 on-base housing units, damaged three C-130 aircraft and blew the roofs off and damaged many buildings in the base's flightline area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jim Araos)

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Airmen from the 50th Airlift Squadron strap their bags before they deploy on April 28, 2011, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Airmen and aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron “Red Devils” leave for deployment to Southwest Asia. This is the first deployment of Airmen and aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base following an F-2 tornado that struck the base the evening of April 25, 2011, and damaged more than 100 on-base housing units, damaged three C-130 aircraft and blew the roofs off and damaged many buildings in the base's flightline area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jim Araos)

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Airmen from the 50th Airlift Squadron “Red Devils” perform a preflight briefing for their deployment to Southwest Asia on April 28, 2011 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. This group will be the first of nearly 20 C-130 aircraft and 1,000 Airmen slated to leave for deployments in the next week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jim Araos)

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Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander, waves the U.S. flag as a C-130H taxi towards a deployment to Southwest Asia on April 28, 2011 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Airmen and aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron “Red Devils” leave for deployment to Southwest Asia. This is the first deployment of Airmen and aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base following an F-2 tornado that struck the base the evening of April 25, 2011, and damaged more than 100 on-base housing units, damaged three C-130 aircraft and blew the roofs off and damaged many buildings in the base's flightline area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jim Araos)

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Team Little Rock Airmen weather storm, ready for deployment

Published April 27, 2011
By Arlo Taylor
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Airmen and aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron "Red Devils" left for deployment to Southwest Asia April 28, 2011. This group is the first of nearly 20 C-130 aircraft and 1,000 Airmen slated to leave for deployments in the next week.

This is the first deployment of Airmen and aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base following an F-2 tornado that struck the base the evening of April 25 and damaged more than 100 on-base housing units, damaged three C-130 aircraft and blew the roofs off and damaged many buildings in the base's flightline area.

"My hat's off to our whole community for the extraordinary work they have done to take care of our deployers and their families while continuing to attend to the urgent needs of Airmen and families impacted by Monday night's tornado," said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. "It takes a total team effort to weather a devastating storm and continue our base's mission to support warfighters without missing a beat. I am proud of our people and continually amazed by their sacrifice, dedication and professionalism."