Photo By Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Weinberg | Col. Christopher Bence, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, gets doused by...... read more read more
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan — Exuberant 376th Air Expeditionary Wing members showed their appreciation to their boss with 'showers of affection' during the commander's 'fini flight,' June 6.
After a refueling sortie mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Col. Christopher Bence, the 376th AEW commander did one last touch and go on Kygyzstan soil before he parked his KC-135 Stratotanker for the last time. Two awaiting fire trucks sprayed an arch of water over the top of the plane's nose.
After his career-final flight his fellow wing members doused the colonel every which way with water and a bottle of the bubbly.
Col. Bence's final flight, shared with crew members Lt. Col. Pamela Freeland, instructor pilot, and Senior Master Sgt. Dan Michener, instructor boom operator, was as meaningful as any with the important OEF mission growing stronger.
"The flight went well, but as often happens when needed by coalition aircraft over Afghanistan, Col. Bence and his crew, extended their mission to provide more 'fuel to the fight' and thus landed more than two hours later than scheduled," said Col. Murray Clark, the 376th Expeditionary Operations Group commander.
"The greeting party anticipated this possibility and simply adjusted the timing as the afternoon passed. Our host-nation partners, Kyrgyzaeronavigatsiya, or KAN and Manas International Airport gave permission for the unique event and even aided us in making it special for Col. Bence," said Colonel Clark.
"MIA agreed to our plan and coordinated with their security and safety personnel so that no one would be alarmed when we sprayed the aircraft [with water] from our fire engines out on the parking ramp. KAN gave Col. Bence a special clearance to perform a 'touch-and-go' landing prior to his final 'full stop,' he said.
"In fact, the Kyrgyz tower controller even agreed to use a special call sign for the final minutes of Col. Bence's flight. Though the mission's official tactical call sign was Shell 74, Bishkek tower cleared 'Shell 01' — the traditional number for the wing commander for their final landing," said Col. Clark.
With such a milestone, an almost melancholy feeling can be felt as years of memories go through Col. Bence's mind.
Growing up in the countryside of Kennewick, Wash., the then younger Chris Bence enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding motorcycles. But, the dream to fly stirred in him while he watched old flying movies such as "Flying Leathernecks," and "Twelve O'clock High," and TV shows such as "Baa Baa Black Sheep."
"I was always fascinated with flying — I flew every toy plane and model rocket I could get my hands on," said Col. Bence.
"It's very important to study hard and stay in school," said Colonel Bence. "I was stronger, academically, in math and science, and my undergraduate degree was in electrical engineering," he said.
"But you don't have to be a math wizard or engineer to be a pilot, the key is to continue to study hard and get good grades ... and never give up on your dreams if that's what you want to do," said Col. Bence.
With good grades under his belt and a dream in his heart, the 1982 high school graduate didn't waste a minute to make that dream come to fruition when he started college at Washington State University in Pullman.
"I literally walked into the Air Force ROTC office my orientation week of my freshman year of college and said, 'Hey! If I sign up can I be a pilot?' I ended up being very fortunate," he said.
After his first year of college and ROTC, Col. Bence applied and received an Air Force ROTC aviation scholarship. After graduating in 1986, he went to pilot training.
"Pilot training was a very, very hard year, both physically and mentally. And I lost a lot of people out of my class who did not finish. We lost almost half of the entire class, and some folks that were very good," said Colonel Bence of his time as an undergraduate pilot training student at Vance AFB, Okla.
One of his most memorable flights was the first time he soloed during pilot training. "The feeling of trust and confidence that I could do it, and then coming back and flying the training profile and then landing, will always be great moments," he said.
"I put on my dream sheet A-10, F-4, F-16 because I loved air-to-ground missions, and loved flying tactical formation, and loved flying in the T-38," said Colonel Bence, who graduated with honors.
"But the Air Force had other plans for me, and that's fine," he said. "I wouldn't have traded it for anything now."
During his time as a KC-135 and C-5 pilot, Col. Bence has landed on every continent except for Antarctica.
Events such as his first combat support mission in a KC-135 during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm will not soon be forgotten.
"I was combat support at the time, but I was a six-ship tanker formation lead and to put six tankers into that crowded air space and have receivers on all six at the same time and managing that air space...
He's landed in such places as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam, where he brought the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Commission to look for more remains of our America's missing.
Not only did he fly significant missions in support of operations worldwide, but he also had the opportunity to fly dignitaries such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom Col. Bence flew to Mogadishu, Somalia. He was also given the honor to fly deceased Gen. Curtis LeMay, former Air Force Chief of Staff, from California to Colorado where he was buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
He has carried fallen comrades from the Area of Responsibility back to places such as Germany and Delaware.
"To name a most memorable flight is very tough, because I have just had incredible opportunities. I remember the first time flying into Cairo, Egypt, and seeing the pyramids and then going and touring them. It's amazing," he said.
"It is a great feeling, and one that I will miss since it may be the last time I am up front with the ultimate window seat," said Colonel Bence who clocked 4,533 total flying hours — 273 of those being in combat. Here at Manas he flew 31 combat flights.
"I just have had a fantastic career. I couldn't have told you 10 years ago or 15 years ago that I would still be doing this, but I've been fortunate that I have been able to continue to fly for most of my entire career," he said.
After the 'fini flight' while Colonel Bence went to put on a dry uniform. A crowd of his command was gathered at the morale center, known as Pete's Place, ready to surprise him to celebrate his final flight as well as honor him with a special going away party.
During the celebration various teams such as the French and the Spanish coalition members, the wing's group commanders, the wing staff, the chaplain, and Airmen council members presented the commander with memorabilia that could cover a wall.
Although Col. Bence's executive officer, Capt. Jarred Prier, managed to take the boss' badge holder, which usually houses a coin or two, Col. Bence couldn't be outsmarted during a traditional coin check.
"I lost the challenge in front of everyone, but it was fun. Col. Bence deserved a send-off like this," said Capt. Prier.
"As a young officer, you look up to senior leaders to analyze their leadership style and how they work with people. Knowing that someday you may be in that position, you want learn as much as you can about leadership when you have opportunities like mine," he said. "Working with Col. Bence has been a great case-study in how to lead and I've learned a lot from him," said Capt. Prier.
"His energy and enthusiasm is contagious and it's obvious that people like being around him and working for him. You can't get to the point that [he] has without hard work, and I've been amazed at how hard he works and the time investment required to run an expeditionary wing and take care of people the way he does," said Capt. Prier who is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D.
Col. Bence will soon be departing Manas and will use those years of flying experience at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he will be the deputy J3 director for operations at U.S. Transportation Command.
"Since I've been here my primary job has been taking care of the Airmen and executing the mission... my goal was to fly once a week, it was my therapy session I can go up, get my head in the clouds, see the bright blue sky or the starlit night and know that I'm doing something that I came into the service to serve and do," said Col. Bence.
"And so I know the Air Force has asked me to continue in doing great things, and I'm really excited to do that," he said.
"I owe a big debt of gratitude to everybody ... my fellow commanders this year. I couldn't have done it without your support and understanding and patience," Col. Bence told the audience.
"I only did what Mom and Dad taught me a long time ago. To do your best, care for the people and trust in people because they will get it done for you," he said.
"I also am looking forward to getting back home to my family. I have missed them this past year, but it has been their love, support and sacrifice that has allowed me to serve at Manas," said Col. Bence.
"It has been an incredible year out here. I am honored and blessed to have been a part of a total team effort — it has been a total team from day one. From the commanders who have been here the whole year to all the Liberandos who have cycled through it has been a total team effort getting it done every day," he said.
"It is very important what we are doing. I am going to miss this place. I am going to miss the family of everybody that's worked here. It has been the highlight of my career and it's been a true honor team."
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2009 06:37 |
| Story ID: | 35277 |
| Location: | MANAS AIR BASE, KG |
| Web Views: | 331 |
| Downloads: | 226 |
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