Missouri National Guard
Members of the 1007th Aviation Group Return Home. (Missouri National Guard photos by Capt. Michelle Matthews/RELEASED)
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -This morning (Aug. 17), Family members, friends and supporters of Springfield's 1107th Aviation Group gathered for a Welcome Home ceremony  at the Oasis Convention Center. The unit was deployed to Southwest Asia, where they conducted aviation depot repair, retrograde aviation logistical operations in both Afghanistan and Kuwait, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The unit is led by Col. David G. Dippold and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward 'Jack' Lambeth.   This return ended their four deployment in support of overseas contingency operations.

While deployed, the 1107th accumulated over 12,000 depot-level maintenance hours returning over 25 rotary winged aircraft to an operational status. In addition to completing 499 work orders, the Group returned over 300 pieces of mission ready equipment to theater. The 1107th successfully managed over 8,549 excess line items valued at $64.2 million while completing 73 engines to National Maintenance Program standards, totaling a cost savings of $38.6 million.

Additionally, the 1107th was awarded the Safety Streamer for placing in the top 25 percent of the 1,898 units surveyed by the Army Readiness Assessment Program and maintaining zero Class A and B accidents during the deployment.

Welcome back to America and Missouri, we're proud of your service

(courtesy of Missouri National Guard)

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