910 AW launches aerial spray mission against pesky mosquitoes in east Texas

An Air Force Reserve Modular Aerial Spray System, or MASS, is visible on the cargo deck of a C-130H Hercules aircraft, assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, as it sits on the flightline of the Kelly Field Annex here, Sept. 12, 2017. The aircrews flying this modified C-130 are among more than 90 Reserve Citizen Airmen tasked to conduct mosquito control aerial spray operations over areas of eastern Texas devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The 910th Airlift Wing operates the Department of Defense’s only aerial spray capability to control pest insect populations, eliminate undesired and invasive vegetation and disperse oil spills in large bodies of water. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) have requested the support of the 910th to treat potentially millions of affected acres for mosquito control purposes. Due to large amounts of standing, polluted water, the numbers of pest insects are increasing significantly. This situation is impacting first responders and recovery workers as clean-up and repair efforts continue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.)