Free Lecture at Champaign Aviation Museum

Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at 11:00am:

Tactical Airlift in Desert Storm

Presented by Brigadier General Paul R. Cooper (Ret.)

Operation Desert Storm was the first major war of the Total Force era rather than relying on the draft. On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi army invaded and occupied Kuwait. Paul Cooper was the commander of the C-130 equipped Air Force Reserve 914th Tactical Airlift Group at Niagara Falls, New York. On August 7, 1990 President Bush made the decision to deploy forces for a defensive build up in Saudi Arabia known as Operation Desert Shield. This presentation in the CAM Library is a first-person account of when Paul deployed to the Middle East for 7 months between 1990 – 1991, flying the C-130 through the oil fires in Kuwait and other missions. He also highlights what it was like to live in a tent city in the active combat zone and the experiences of his unit during the war. In September 1992, the 914th Tactical Airlift Group received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

About our Speaker: Brigadier General Paul R. Cooper retired in 2002 as commander of the Air Force Reserve’s 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He completed almost 35 years of military service with the United States Air Force and the Air Force Reserve. He has been a base commander at three different bases and held a variety of key staff positions including chief of staff at two numbered air forces. Eight times the unit that he led received the Air Force Distinguished Unit Award as a result of his creative mentorship, innovative team building, and inspirational leadership. He is a command pilot with over 12,000 flying hours in jet aircraft. His numerous decorations include: the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, 3 Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star, and 3 Air Medals.