Wright-Patterson to become safe haven for aircraft threatened by Tropical Storm Hanna Published Sept. 3, 2008 By Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Officials from the 88th Air Base Wing here are preparing to receive aircraft and their associated aircrews, maintenance and security personnel from several east coast military installations threatened by approaching Tropical Storm Hanna. The first aircraft are slated to arrive later this afternoon from Jacksonville, Fla., including 14 F-15 Eagles from the 125th Fighter Wing (Florida Air National Guard). Officials from the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. announced this morning that approximately 80 F-15E Strike Eagles would depart Thursday, Sept. 4 to Wright-Patterson, along with a KC-135 tanker from that base's 916th Air Refueling Wing. Several C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston AFB, S.C are tentatively preparing to evacuate to Wright-Patterson Thursday, base officials here said. "Wright-Patterson has well established hurricane evacuation support plans and a robust capability to accept aircraft and crews," said Col. Bradley Spacy, 88th Air Base Wing commander. Base officials here are closely watching the approaching storm's track and intensity and planning for the potential arrival of additional aircraft seeking safe haven from Hanna, which is expected to soon become a Hurricane threatening the U.S. eastern coast. Updates and information on additional arriving aircraft will be released when it becomes available.