Hurricane relief highlights: VR-57 Conquistadors.

Flying into the barely operational and battered New Orleans International Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, two new Navy C-40 Clippers from the VR-57 Conquistadors were among the first Navy transport aircraft to arrive. Based in San Diego, Calif., the reserve squadron was currently in training status after retiring their C-9s, and suddenly found themselves fully operational and on-scene as one of the first Navy jets to evacuate refugees from the besieged city of New Orleans on the evening of 2 September 2005. By the end of the week, the two aircraft and over 30 squadron members were responsible for 31 flights, 62 flight hours, and the safe transportation of over 800 men, women, and children, along with nearly 70,000 pounds of relief supplies. Petty Officer Patrick Earley summed up the Conquistador's no-notice call to operational status best: "I felt like all week, I was in the right place. I was where I wanted to be."

By LCdr. Mark Withycombe, VR-57 PAO