Politics & Government

With Focus on Research, Lakehurst Base Uninvolved in Libya Operations

Allied forces continue bombing strikes in Libya

Though American and European forces conducted strikes against defense targets in Libya over the weekend, activity at the Lakehurst portion of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst was unaffected, said a spokesman at the installation.

Operations in Lakehurst are geared toward developing and testing Navy equipment, said Thomas Worsdale, public affairs officer for the Naval Air Systems Command in Lakehurst.

"We handle the catapults, arresting gear and support equipment for the Navy, so we would not be directly involved in any activity" due to an increase in Department of Defense operations, Worsdale said. 

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According to the spokesman, the base is "largely a research, development and test organization composed of over 1,000 engineers."

It is unclear what role McGuire and Dix have in the overseas military operation. Calls and email messages to spokespeople there asking for comment have not been returned.

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Both installations have handled hundreds of refueling operations and refugee assistance programs in previous missions in Kosova, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. cargo planes have been transporting refugees out of Libya as American and European forces work to enforce a no-fly zone over the North African country this weekend.

A defiant Moammar Gadhafi vowed a "long war" after the U.S. and European militaries blasted his forces with airstrikes and over 100 cruise missiles early Sunday, hitting air defenses and at least two major air bases and shaking the Libyan capital with explosions and anti-aircraft fire, the Associated Press reported.


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