Early morning mission
A C-17 Globemaster III is prepped and de-iced before take-off Feb. 5, 2009, at Ramstein Air Base in support of the days mission to come. The C-17 later took off en route to the Area of Operation loaded with cargo to support U.S. forces on the ground. Ramstein is one of the busiest flying bases in U.S. Air Forces in Europe, supporting C-17s, C-5s and C-130s. Ramstein is also the in-between destination for deploying troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenny Holston)