Wright-Patt crew flew Bergdahl from Afghanistan to Germany

On Wednesday it was revealed that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base played a key role in the recent rescue of former POW Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

The 445th Airlift Wing based at Wright-Patterson flew Bergdahl from Afghanistan to Germany this month, according to unit leaders.

Bergdahl was held in Taliban captivity for five years before he was released in an exchange for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Air Force Reserve wing crew happened to be at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan when the Wright-Patterson-based crew was tasked with transporting Bergdahl and an entourage of several military escorts to Germany, officials said Wednesday. Bergdahl began treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on June 1, according to the Associated Press.

He was brought to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas this week. Bergdahl reportedly was nervous but “looked good” when he returned to the United States, the wire service reported.

The 445th flies weekly cargo or aeromedical evacuation missions to Afghanistan, said Col. Jeff McGalliard, wing commander. The unit often has members deployed around the globe. The wing has nine C-17 jets and nearly 1,900 reservists at Wright-Patterson.

Col. David A. Owens, the unit’s operations group commander, said Air Force reservists train to the same standards as their active-duty counterparts.

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