Thursday, Sep. 04, 2008

Charleston Air Force Base evacuating transports

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE — Charleston Air Force Base is evacuating 11 C-17 transport planes to bases in Ohio and Missouri as Tropical Storm Hanna heads toward the U.S. coast.

Air Force officials say departures of the $200 million aircraft and their three-man crews will begin Thursday morning. An aircraft will take off every half hour until the entire group is deployed.

Six of the planes known as Globemasters will head for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, and seven will head for Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Air Force officials say there has been no mandatory evacuation order given for military personnel at the base or their families.

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