3 AEW prepares for operations at NAS North Island for Bamboo Eagle 24-1

A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, originating from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, offloads cargo at Naval Air Station North Island, California, during exercise Bamboo Eagle, Jan. 29, 2024. BE 24-1 was a first-of-its-kind exercise directed by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and was composed of approximately 3,000 U.S. joint service members, allies and partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, and more than 150 aircraft from 24 units dispersed across more than 10 locations in the western U.S. Through the use of designated airspace, BE 24-1 provided Airmen, allies and partners a flexible, combat-representative, multidimensional battlespace to conduct testing tactics development and advanced training in support of U.S. national interests. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Moises Vasquez)