Guard remembers 'Operation Haylift'
On this date in South Dakota National Guard history in 1952, five officers and airmen of the South Dakota Air National Guard participated in “Operation Haylift.”By: News release, SD National Guard Public Affairs Office
EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of the South Dakota National Guard’s 150 years of service to the state and nation from 1862 to 2012, the SDNG is publishing significant dates in the history of the organization all year long.
On this date in South Dakota National Guard history in 1952, five officers and airmen of the South Dakota Air National Guard participated in “Operation Haylift.”
March 28 was the first day of the mission that lasted until April 11, 1952.
Unusually heavy amounts of drifted snow had stranded cattle in the fields in western and central South Dakota. A total of 27 emergency flight missions were flown with the unit dropping 2,412 bales of hay to starving cattle. Two additional missions were for flood duty carrying sandbags to the flood area.
On the fifth day of the hay lift, the unit’s home airbase at Sioux Falls became flooded by the Sioux River, which necessitated operating from the Mitchell airfield.
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