Wright-Patt air crews deliver 35 tons to Hurricane-ravaged Texas

Lt. Col. Steven R. Shrader, 445th Airlift Wing deputy group operations commander, stands on the flight line Thursday in front of three C-17 jets based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Wright-Patterson C-17s have been called into Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in Texas. BARRIE BARBER/STAFF

Lt. Col. Steven R. Shrader, 445th Airlift Wing deputy group operations commander, stands on the flight line Thursday in front of three C-17 jets based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Wright-Patterson C-17s have been called into Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in Texas. BARRIE BARBER/STAFF

Wright-Patterson C-17 air crews were on alert today and Friday ready to fly to Texas after two of the cargo jets delivered troops, food and equipment to flooded areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey, a spokesman said.

One C-17 Globemaster III jet remained in Texas overnight Wednesday shuttling cargo between locations Thursday, said Lt. Col. Steven R. Shrader, 445th Airlift Wing deputy operations group commander.

RELATED: Wright-Patt C-17 crews involved in Texas rescue efforts

“At the end of last week when we saw the devastation going on, people were asking when am I needed to help,” he said.

Aeromedical evacuation crews at Wright-Patterson were available to tend to patients if needed, he said. Wright-Patt crews have delivered more than 35 tons of supplies thus far, he said.

RELATED: When hurricanes strike, Wright-Patt crews have taken to the air

The first Wright-Patterson relief flight took off over the weekend and landed at airports in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, said Lt. Col. Cynthia Harris, a wing spokeswoman. Since then, they have stopped at Biggs Army Air Field near El Paso and Kelly Field near San Antonio.

RELATED: Wright-Patt cargo unit completes Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

The Air Force Reserve crews flew C-17 relief missions from Wright-Patterson when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy rolled into New York and New Jersey in 2012.

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