On the evening of November 19 2021, RCH8194, C-17A 08-8194, lifted from Fort Campbell. It was 6:40PM (2340Z). It probably didn't make much difference to anyone in the area. These are common flights. Common enough for flight trackers who watch for this stuff to sometimes miss.
1/
Within a couple hours, it should have become a little more obvious.
Another C-17A, 00-0184 #AE08BE, was lifting from Fort Campbell around 7PM local, 0000Z, with RCH5E1, C-17A 04-4138 #AE1448, descending for Campbell's Army Airfield.
Something was beginning to move.
2/
Not much further away to the east at roughly the same time, RCH889, C-17A 06-6157 #AE145B, was lifting out of Fort Bragg/Pope AAF, NC.
At this moment, all aircraft involved had used in part or in whole Mode S to at least partially obfuscate their departures.
3/
Meanwhile, from across the Atlantic, C-17s were arriving where these other flights would land. Bangor, ME is a hub of sorts for deployments as is Dover, DE.
Each flight, regardless of direction, was using Mode S.
4/
Another key hub of movement was out of Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF, GA.
C-17A flights out of here included:
RCH124, 04-4128 #AE123A
RCH1186, 01-0186 #AE10B5
RCH9035 01-0194 #AE10BD
5/
At least 1 was involved from Fort Benning, GA by 0600Z.
RCH9035 is C-17A 010194 #AE10BD
It's now 6 hours into outbound flights & virtually every one of the 15 C-17As on the eastern seaboard (most using Mode S) appear to be involved in something akin to the Jan 2020 surge.
6/
Alright, so what's this all got to do with the price of gas?
Well, for starters, the flight patterns being similar to the January 2020 surge (see link) should raise some interest because it almost certainly signals troop movements.
7/
theaviationist.com/2020/01/02/onl…
And the destination (likely) is...
Djibouti.
8/
In fact, thanks to @IntelWalrus finding the ACARS messages for the flights inbound to Djibouti via @thebaldgeek and his website, we can show @ADSBexchange positions of November 20-23rd for all flights involved (left to right, top to bottom). A single mass rush, and RTB.
9/
@IntelWalrus @thebaldgeek @ADSBexchange With unrest in Ethiopia, it's no wonder the US is staging troops. CNN reports deployment of 1/75th Rangers.
This is certainly corroborated by the type & base of departure for flights listed in this thread, but perhaps even more. (h/t @IntelWalrus)
10/
cnn.com/2021/11/22/pol…
Based on C-17A transport stops, here is my best guess:
Regimental HQ from Benning.
1st battalion definitely via Stewart/Hunter.
Possible 160th SOAR from Campbell, or part of an MP battalion.
The Fort Campbell element is what intrigues me, but I need more info.
11/
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