Lakenheath ITT rescues stranded DoD affiliates during Icelandic volcanic eruption

  • Published
  • By Sara Harr
  • 48th Force Support Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Force Support Squadron's Information, Tickets & Travel office recently secured the safe return of Lakenheath personnel during the Icelandic volcano eruption that closed most European airspace.

48th FSS collaborated with wing agencies across Europe and secured five coaches to bring 237 personnel who were stranded throughout Italy, at military installations including U.S. Army Garrison Vincenza and Aviano Air Base back to Lakenheath. Many members were returning from vacations, including a scheduled Mediterranean cruise through ITT, and government official travel.

"We began working immediately following the volcano eruption and closure of U.K. airspace to contract coaches to drive to Italy and bring back stranded U.S. personnel," explained Virginia Lamboll, ITT manager. "It was the start of the weekend and coach operators were already committed to commercial weekend tours. We started sending coaches upon their return."

"Amazingly, everything started to move, and by Monday evening the first of five coaches started arriving in Italy to pick folks up and bring them back to the U.K.," Ms. Lamboll continued.

Additionally, coaches hired by the ITT office stopped at RAF Mildenhall to pick up more than thirty personnel TDY from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, then made a pit stop at Ramstein on the way to Italy.

Several members of the FSS team vacationing with other displaced personnel assisted in ensuring a safe return for all. Among these team members was Ms. Jaime Wimer, Electric Avenue assistant manager.

"I had a great time and knew we needed to get people home and taken care of, it was not a problem," said Ms. Wimer.

"Jaime did a wonderful job of assisting in Italy and keeping in contact with FSS personnel here at Lakenheath on their progress home," said Mr. Chris Cowderoy, 48th Force Support Squadron's community services flight chief.

He went on to say that Ms. Wimer helped make sure stranded service members were kept informed during the coach trip from Aviano.

"We brought 237 people home over the course of a seven-day period," said Mr. Cowderoy. "Force Support made no profit whatsoever. This was about helping people, and that's what we do best."