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U.S. Air Force News

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • RAF Lakenheath breaks ground on future F-35 infrastructure

    Through the partnership with the DIO, as well as Kier and VolkerFitzpatrick construction groups, the installation will be ready to welcome the first F-35A Lightning II aircraft in late 2021. The infrastructure projects will include a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and

  • From enlisted marine to 100th ARW commander

    The son of immigrant parents from Thailand, Col. Troy Pananon, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, didn’t have a long family military tradition to lean on, so he made his own instead.

  • 2019 BTF comes to an end

    The BTF deployment enabled theater integration and training with joint partners, allied nations and other U.S. Air Force units, to further enhance bomber interoperability in the theater.

  • USAF supports premier RAF exercise

    The U.S. Air Force’s 492nd Fighter Squadron sent several F-15E Strike Eagles to support the Royal Air Force’s premier air combat training exercise, Typhoon Warrior, Aug. 14-23, at RAF Coningsby, England.

  • Aircraft parts store: No one flies without supplies

    The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron is one of the largest squadrons at RAF Mildenhall, and is the beating heart that keeps the Bloody Hundredth’s mission going.RAF Mildenhall is one of the few bases with an aircraft parts store open 24 hours; leaving no room for a pause in the mission with a

  • SecAF Wilson returns to RAF Mildenhall, discusses innovation, strategy

    When then 2nd Lt. Heather Wilson joined the Air Force in 1985, her very first assignment was to the 3rd Air Force at RAF Mildenhall. Now, Secretary of the Air Force Wilson returned to RAF Mildenhall July 12, to learn about the new innovations the Airmen have since created, and to speak about the

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 17

    On this look around the Air Force, Vice President Mike Pence visits Airmen at Nellis Air Force Base, Air National Guard Airmen assist law enforcement with recovery efforts from the recent mudslides, and B-52s deploy to England.

  • Fire chief shares personal story of trauma, perseverance

    Trapped and alone in a smoke-filled room with zero visibility, flames raging outside and the temperature rapidly rising to hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit, Airman 1st Class William Taylor realized that he was alone. His only hope of staying alive was to get himself out of there – and fast.

  • Total Force Airmen maximize refueling capacity in Europe

    In a long-standing total force partnership between Air Force Reserve Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe, members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing are augmenting the 100th Air Refueling Wing here to provide KC-135R Stratotanker mid-air refueling support to the European theater of operations, July

  • Around the Air Force: July 12

    On this look around the Air Force, Air National Guard Airmen battle California wildfires, F-16s arrive in England for a flying training deployment, and fiscal year 2018 first-term Airmen retraining quotas are released.

  • Foreign pilots fly high in exchange program at JB Charleston

    Foreign exchange programs across the globe allow students from a secondary school or university to study abroad and are fairly well known. However, some might not be aware of the foreign pilot exchange program the Air Force implemented in 1998.

  • Arctic Challenge exercise aims to increase interoperability

    Twelve F-15C Eagles and about 200 personnel from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and two KC-135 Stratotankers and over 30 personnel from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, England, deployed to bases in Finland and Sweden for exercise Arctic

  • F-35s forward deploy to Bulgaria

    Two F-35A Lightning IIs and about 20 supporting Airmen arrived at Graf Ignatievo Air Base April 28 from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

  • F-35As deploy to Estonia for the first time

    Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft and about 20 supporting Airmen arrived at Ämari Air Base April 25, 2017, from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. The F-35As are participating in their first training deployment to Europe. The aircraft and total force Airmen are from the 34th Fighter Squadron and the

  • Around the Air Force: April 18

    On this look around the Air Force, F-35A Lightning IIs arrive at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England; and 19th Air Support Operations Airmen earned German Armed Forces Proficiency Badges.

  • Exercise Tonnerre Lightning exhibits trust, teamwork, training

    Around-the-clock, whether for combat operations or humanitarian aid, Airmen are ready to respond anywhere. Until they get that call, however, Airmen hone their skills through exercises and realistic training.During exercise Tonnerre Lightning, the U.S. Air Force worked with United Kingdom and French

  • Carrying the load

    With enemy rounds visible within 10 feet of the ramp, the loadmasters took cover and manually cut the release gate. After the drop, the pilot conducted a rapid climb and maneuvered out of the weapon engagement zone. Although the entire encounter lasted approximately 90 seconds and resulted in a

  • Overcoming cancer, embracing life

    She placed a pillow under her right shoulder and put her right arm behind her head on the bed. Using her left hand, she pressed the pads of her fingers around her right breast gently in small circular motions, covering the entire breast area and armpit.

  • ‘Not disabilities but different abilities’

    October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Lt. Col. Brandon Sokora, the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, shared his story during a lunch celebrating the many varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

  • From England to France: Swimming the channel

    After approximately two years of training and regimented swimming schedules, two Airmen swam the English Channel from Dover, England, to the western coastline of France Sept. 27 and Oct. 3.

  • Around the Air Force: July 8

    In this look around the Air Force the first enlisted RQ-4 Global Hawk pilots have been selected for training, an MQ-9 Reaper crashed in northern Syria, and a C-17 Globemaster III was awarded the best static display at an air show in England.

  • First USAF F-35A takes overseas flight to England

    The Air Combat Command F-35A Heritage Flight team accomplished America’s first transatlantic flight in an F-35A Lightning II, with refueling support from a KC-10 Extender, when it touched down June 30 at Royal Air Force Fairford, England.

  • Ready to receive: B-52s touch down in England

    With the sharp screech of rubber meeting asphalt, two B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, touched down June 2 at Royal Air Force Fairford, England.

  • Raptors complete successful European deployment

    Twelve F-22 Raptors from the 95th Fighter Squadron and about 220 Airmen from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, completed on May 8 a month-long deployment to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

  • Air Force civic leaders visit USAFE

    The Air Force Civic Leader Program is an Air Staff-level program whose membership is comprised of community leaders selected by the Air Force major commands, National Guard Bureau and Headquarters Air Force.

  • Lakenheath strengthens royal ties during Joint Warrior

    Airmen from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, recently completed three weeks of intense threat-reaction training missions during Joint Warrior 2016 in Scotland. Joint Warrior is a NATO exercise, which prepares rescue coalition force units for potential real-world scenarios that could be

  • Mental maintenance: Tools to keep the mind fit

    Airmen often go to the fitness center; some spend several hours a week toning their bodies, while others go to simply maintain their physique. But what about strengthening the mind?

  • Mildenhall NCO risks everything; recognized with Airman’s Medal

    Staff Sgt. Vicente Gomez, a 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, made the usual right turn onto Eriswell Road toward Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, but came across smoke rising from two vehicles which had just collided moments earlier and a third car that had been run off the road.

  • F-15Es arrive at Inclirlik Air Base

    Six F-15E Strike Eagles arrived at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Nov. 12 in a demonstration of the United States' unwavering support to peace and stability in the region.

  • Family isn't always blood

    People like routines, schedules and structure, especially in the military. Change can sometimes be unwelcome and overwhelming, particularly if it's a sudden, drastic change due to an illness. For Tech. Sgt. Thomas Echelmeyer, of the 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, that's exactly what happened. His

  • NATO program develops tactical leaders

    Fighter pilots from seven allied countries, including the U.S., U.K., Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, and Italy completed the NATO Tactical Leadership Program here Oct. 9.

  • F-22s arrive in Estonia

    Two F-22 Raptors and a KC-135 Stratotanker arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, Sept. 5.

  • Optimism helped Vietnam vet survive as POW

    When 2nd Lt. John "Spike" Nasmyth climbed into his F-4 Phantom II on Sept. 4, 1966, to fly a combat mission over Vietnam, he never foresaw that he'd be blown out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile.The last words he heard before his jet was transformed into a lump of crumpled, metal wreckage were

  • Zelda's tower

    For 35 years, Zelda Montoya has stood in her tower, overlooking flightlines around the world and guiding aircraft to and from home. To her, the sky is not made up of fleecy clouds and endless expanses of blue, but rather lines, grids and waypoints.

  • Mildenhall CDC best in Air Force

    The Royal Air Force Mildenhall Child Development Center was awarded the Air Force's best Child Development Program of the Year for 2014. Competing against 84 other CDCs across the Air Force was no small challenge, and it took an above-and-beyond effort of the whole team.

  • Joint Warrior: It's what we train for

    They train for air-to-air combat missions, are rapidly deployable, execute worldwide combat search and rescue (CSAR), and sustain operations around the world during both war and peace.

  • Civil engineer bowls his way to world championship

    Nick Brett, the water and fuels shop chief for the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron, earned the title of number one indoor bowler in the world, when he faced off against, and defeated, six-time world champion, Alex Marshall.

  • F-15 crashes, pilot safe on ground

    An F-15D Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England crashed at approximately 3:28 p.m. (10:28 a.m. EST) today, while conducting a combat training mission.

  • Surviving the altitude

    Many issues may arise when flying as aircrew, including hypoxia, which can be life-threatening if the proper procedures are not taken to correct it.

  • Following in her father's flight plan

    Some families have a history of military service, whether it be cross-service or within the same branch. It is somewhat less common however, to have two consecutive generations not only serve in the same branch of the military, but to pursue the same career field.

  • U.S. Forces display military might at Farnborough

    Organizations, businesses and military forces from across the globe gathered in Farnborough, England, to celebrate 100 years of aviation at the Farnborough International Air Show July 14 -20.

  • Technology helps remember fallen, ensures memories live on

    It was a damp, foggy morning in October, amidst a sea of marble headstones; the sound of bells chiming out seemed to echo the air of somberness all around at Madingley American Cemetery, near Cambridge. The whole scene was humbling.