AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD
By Staff Writer
Presented to SRA RIGEL LOCKETT and A1C AUGUSTINE WILLIAMS
On April 9, 2021, as a C-17 taxied into its parking spot, a fire erupted in the left wheel well area. Fortunately for the crew onboard, SrA Rigel Lockett and A1C Augustine Williams from the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, SC, noticed the fire, quickly retrieved a flightline fire extinguisher, and attempted to extinguish the fire. The duo thought it had been fully extinguished, but the fire, fed by hydraulic fluid, reignited. Determined to not let the blaze get out of control, Lockett and Williams then retrieved a second extinguisher and continued to fight the fire until the fire department arrived minutes later. Thanks to the actions of Lockett and Williams, the crew onboard egressed safely, and it is likely their efforts saved the aircraft from being a total loss.