NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Woman's choice to drink, drive crushes captain's dream of flying

    Capt. Alan Yee had just finished pilot training and was out with friends celebrating. He and his friends realized they had one too many drinks to drive, and called a cab. As they were travelling down a 50 mph road, a truck slammed into their cab. Moments later, one friend in the cab was ejected out

  • Ramstein Airmen train in Israel

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise Dec. 1 through 10 at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements for the C-130J Super Hercules which are not allowed in Germany because of country regulations."Training is hard to achieve in Germany

  • Airman helps rescue 3 injured warriors during battle in Afghanistan

    An Air National Guard member from the 129th Rescue Squadron here recently returned home from her deployment to Afghanistan after being wounded by enemy forces while rescuing three injured American Soldiers July 29. Capt. Mary Jennings, an HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot, launched her rescue helicopter,

  • Hickam officials pay tribute to Airmen's storied legacy

    Airmen and their families gathered at Hickam Air Force Base's historic flag pole Dec. 7, for the 68th remembrance ceremony to honor those men and women who lost their lives in the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor. "On a similar morning 68 years ago on these very grounds, our world changed forever,"

  • Air Force officials release F-15E accident investigation report

    Air Combat Command officials here Dec. 1 released the results of an F-15E Strike Eagle in Afghanistan July 18 stating a flight lead weapons system officer's incorrect assessment of a training target's elevation led to the crash, according to the ACC Accident Investigation Board report. The crew was

  • Air Force officials release MQ-1 accident report

    Air Force officials here said an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft flying a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom lost contact with its ground control station and crashed in a forward operating area April 20, according to the Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report

  • Reserve, Guard members contribute to Ramstein mission

    In February 2009, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said, "I am proud to report that the total force team of regular, Reserve, Guard and civilians, along with our joint partners, continues to provide world-class air, space and cyber capabilities for our combatant commanders." At Ramstein AB,

  • One Airman's trash is another Airman's training aid

    Several American and Iraqi airmen are working together to move parts from a wrecked C-130 Hercules on Sather Air Base to New Al Muthana AB where they will be used as training aids for Iraqi aircraft maintainers. The 447th Air Expeditionary Group's fire department and safety office as well as Iraqi

  • Cope India dubbed a success

    U.S. and Indian air force officials are pleased with the positive results of all of the joint-training operations executed here during Cope India, Oct. 19 to 23. Cope India is a United States and India airlift exercise that provides training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

  • Chief of staff honors fallen Airmen in moving ceremony

    It was May 17, 1962, and NASA Astronaut Scott Carpenter was preparing for the Mercury program's second-ever orbital mission. Half way around the world, 13 Airmen were also preparing, getting situated to provide an emergency recovery site in Africa, only one of several such units positioned around

  • Globemaster conducts first mission for Cope India

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew conducted the first ever combined airdrop mission with Indian air force personnel here as part of exercise Cope India. The 535th Airlift Squadron from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, conducted a high-altitude low-opening mission with four U.S. Air Force Airmen and Soldiers

  • Exercise Cope India begins

    More than 400 airmen from the United States and India began the fourth installment of exercise Cope India, a bilateral humanitarian assistance disaster relief exercise, here Oct. 19. The exercise will exchange airlift, air land, and tactical airdrop delivery techniques using three C-130H Hercules,

  • Team exchanges ideas with Chilean air force

    Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, in late October with Chilean air force members on topics such as crisis management, media relations and air operations center processes and procedures. The exchange was a

  • Cooperation Team-One exchanges ideas with Chilean air force members

    Members of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, with members of the Fuerza Aerea Chile, or FACh, on topics such as crisis management, media relations and Air Operations Center processes and

  • Authorities call off search for missing F-16 pilot

    Authorities are still looking for the wreckage of an F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed with its pilot into the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina's coast Oct. 15. An official at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., said Oct. 19 that there is nothing new to report since authorities announced Oct. 17 that Capt.

  • Missing F-16 pilot's crash debris found in ocean

    Coast Guard searchers found crash debris Oct. 16 in the Atlantic Ocean believed to belong to a missing Air Force pilot's F-16 Fighting Falcon that collided Oct. 15 with another F-16 near the South Carolina coast during a night-training exercise, said an Air Force spokesman. "The Coast Guard has

  • Airmen bid farewell to Spanish forces at Transit Center at Manas

    Airmen of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here held a ceremony to say goodbye to their Spanish counterparts as the Spanish Detachment vacated the Transit Center at Manas Oct. 13. During the ceremony, the Spaniards paid their respects to their fallen comrades and fallen American servicemembers by

  • Rescue center providing assistance to find downed F-16

    Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here have dispatched two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and an HC-130 from the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., in response to a collision of two F-16 Fighting Falcons from Shaw AFB, S.C., that collided in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean Oct.15

  • Flight simulators help AMC to 'maximize value, minimize waste'

    In Air Mobility Command, the use of flight simulators as an Air Force Smart Operation for the 21st Century effort is helping significantly reduce costs, maximize training and make more aircraft available for operational missions. Through AFSO 21, initiatives provide a "dedicated effort to maximize

  • Air Force officials release results of T-38 accident investigation

    An Air Force accident investigation board has determined that a failure in the rudder operating mechanism caused the crash of a T-38 aircraft on a training mission 12 miles north of Edwards AFB, Calif., on May 21, 2009. The report states the failure was most likely due to maintenance issues. Maj.

  • AMC, AFRC establish associate flying squadrons

    Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command are working to establish three active associate flying squadrons in 2010. About 500 active Airmen will associate with Air Force Reserve units at Keesler AFB, Miss.; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and Peterson AFB, Colo., by 2012. Lt. Col. Carlos

  • Wounded warriors get heros' welcome at Andrews

    Minutes after the hulking C-17 Globemaster III rolled to a stop on the tarmac here Sept. 28, two oversized ambulances backed up to its rear loading ramp to receive its precious cargo: 23 wounded warriors and sick or injured servicemembers in need of advanced medical care. Most of the patients

  • Wright Flyer replica crashes

    An authentic replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III crashed at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field here at approximately 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Vintage aircraft builder and pilot Mark Dusenberry, was flown by CareFlight helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton where his injuries were initially identified

  • NORAD fighters escort troubled aircraft

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted a civilian aircraft Sept. 30 over Muncie, Ind., at the North American Aerospace Defense Command's direction and stayed with the aircraft and its unconscious pilot until it crashed, NORAD officials reported. NORAD scrambled the Air National Guard F-16s at about

  • Air Force officials release F-16 accident report

    A pilot's failure to recognize his altitude during night, low altitude high-angle strafing training caused the crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Utah Test and Training Range June 22, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Sept. 28 here. The pilot, Capt.

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    An MQ-1 Predator flying a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom lost contact with its ground control station and presumably crashed in a forward operating area May 13, according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released Sept. 22 here. The Predator, assigned to

  • Former Kadena commander and spouse receive 2009 O'Malley Award

    The former Kadena Air Base, Japan, wing commander and his wife received the 2009 General Jerome F. O'Malley and Diane O'Malley Award Sept. 11 at a ceremony in the Pentagon. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the award and Sharon O'Malley Burg made two special presentations of

  • Predator crashes in central Iraq

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed in central Iraq at approximately 12:45 p.m. Baghdad time on Sept.14. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The crash site has been secured and there were no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property. The aircraft is a

  • General takes to the sky in Afghanistan

    The commander of the Air Force's newest air expeditionary wing in Afghanistan is taking a hands-on approach to his duties. Brig. Gen. Guy Walsh, a Maryland Air National Guardsman from the 175th Airlift Wing in Baltimore, is flying at least two missions a week in the A-10 Thunderbolt II from Kandahar

  • Reaper crashes in Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft crashed in Afghanistan Sept. 13 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Kabul time.   The aircraft was flying a combat mission when positive control of the aircraft was lost. When the aircraft remained on a course that would depart Afghanistan airspace, a U.S. Air Force

  • MQ-1 Predator crashes at Holloman AFB

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed Sept. 11 at 8:58 a.m. here. The aircraft was assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., and was part of the MQ-1 training mission. No one was injured and no private property was damaged. The accident is under investigation.

  • Kunsan Airmen, guests remember 9-11 with Patriot Day Ceremony

    Members of the 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea air force's 38th Fighter Group held a September 11 Patriot Day Ceremony here to honor and remember those who were lost that day in 2001. A formation of 8th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, 8th Security Forces Squadron defenders and 8th

  • History shows strong response on 9-11 by AMC people

    If you thumb through the volumes of Air Mobility Command history, many significant events are documented. The terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, are among them. On the morning of Sept. 11, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners and

  • Vehicle crashes drive off-duty summer fatalities

    Four servicemembers died in off-duty accidents Labor Day weekend, bringing to 95 the number killed during the summer season that kicked off Memorial Day weekend, safety officials reported. Two Soldiers, a Sailor and an Airman died in vehicle accidents during the Labor Day weekend, which marked the

  • Airmen teach moulage to medical students

    Approximately 50 students from Dr. Milenko Hadzic Medical School in Nis, Serbia, received moulage-application training from Airmen assigned to the 86th Medical Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 8 in preparation for a mass casualty and natural disaster exercise scheduled for Sept. 9-11. The

  • 1st Air Force Airmen better prepared for homeland defense 8 years after 9/11

    On Sept. 10, 2001, Airmen assigned to 1st Air Force here were wondering just how much longer their air defense organization might last. They knew the organization's lifespan was possibly at risk, fostered by a widespread belief that major conventional military air threats to the U.S. homeland were

  • Predator crashes in Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan Sept. 4 at approximately 8:45 p.m. Kabul time. The crash was not due to hostile fire. There were no reports of civilian injuries or damage to civilian property at the site. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance,

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force officials here Sept. 2 said a disconnected vacuum line caused the April 28 crash of an MQ-1 Predator west of Creech Air Force Base, Nev.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report, the aircraft executed a hard landing in the rough terrain surrounding the airfield

  • Safety: More than just 101 critical days

    Just because you "fly a desk" in an administrative work area, doesn't mean you don't have to worry about safety. In fact, according to 86th Airlift Wing safety officials here, one of the more extreme mishaps that happened this year took place in an administrative environment. One unlucky person

  • Airdrop fuels troops in austere Afghan locations

    Air Force officials from here airdropped 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July. Members of the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron contributed more than 276,000 pounds of equipment, ammunition and other supplies ranging from fuel to food and water to fellow

  • Flying hospital staff gives wounded fighting chance

    At any given moment, a call can come in requiring an entire aeromedical evacuation staff here to stop what they are doing and begin preparing to care for the wounded and sick headed their way. The team of Airmen will pull supplies, alert additional crewmembers, get updates from aid stations and make

  • Mildenhall serves as base for Turkish C-130 engine replacement

    A team of 13 Turkish air force mechanics arrived here Aug. 17 to repair one of their C-130s after a maintenance inspection revealed problems with one of the aircraft's engines. Members of the 100th Maintenance Squadron lent support of its facilities and equipment to the team while they swapped out

  • Airmen rescue motorcyclist from raging fire

    As the fire quickly consumed the 4-foot-tall crops and anything in its path, Chief Master Sgt. James Eggers knew what he had to do. His first priority was to quickly locate the motorcyclist laying somewhere in the field. It was late July when Chief Eggers, the 31st Medical Group superintendent here,

  • F-16s scramble to unresponsive pilot over West Virginia

    Officials from the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here responded to a call from Federal Aviation Administration officials at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern time July 30 when radio calls to a civilian pilot went unanswered. F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots flying under the command and control of

  • Air Force officials release F-22 accident report

    Air Force Materiel Command officials here July 31 released an accident investigation report that determined that human factors associated with high gravitational forces caused the March 25 crash of an F-22 test aircraft 35 miles outside of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The test pilot, David Cooley,

  • Co-pilot of Flight 1549 takes flight of different kind

    First Officer Jeff Skiles, co-pilot of the U.S. Airways flight that crash-landed in the Hudson River in January, took to the sky July 23 with the U.S. Air Force's Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. "Of all the things I have been involved with since the accident, this has got to be the

  • Guam Airmen honor fallen aircrew with memorial

    As citizens of Guam made preparations to celebrate the island's 65th anniversary of liberation from foreign occupation, a group of government, civilian and military officials here paused July 20 to remember the six Airmen who died when their B-52 Stratofortress -- call sign RAIDR 21 -- crashed off

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualties from F-15E crash

    Department of Defense officials here July 19 announced the names of two Airmen who died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in a nonhostile F-15E Strike Eagle crash July 18 near Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Killed were: -- Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn. He was assigned to the 336th

  • F-15E crew perishes in Afghanistan crash

    Two Air Force officers were killed July 18 in the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft, assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., was flying in support of coalition operations in eastern Afghanistan. The crash occurred at approximately 3:15 A.M. Kabul time. "Our thoughts and prayers

  • F-15E crashes in eastern Afghanistan

    An F-15E Strike Eagle conducting coalition operations in eastern Afghanistan crashed at approximately 3:15 A.M. Kabul time. The crash was not due to hostile fire. Two crew members were on board. Their condition is unknown at this time.A board of officers will investigate the incident.Additional

  • Air Force officials release Reaper accident report

    Air Force officials here announced an MQ-9 Reaper that crashed March 20 at Fort Irwin, Calif., was due to an improperly assembled oil system temperature control valve, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released July 13 here. The Reaper, assigned to the 42nd

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force officials here announced an MQ-1 Predator that crashed just short of Ali Base, Iraq, Oct. 19, 2008, was due to a quill shaft bearing failure, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released July 13 here. The $3.7 million Predator, assigned to the 432nd Wing

  • Reaper crash in southern Afghanistan

    An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system crashed in southern Afghanistan July 4. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The aircraft is a medium-to-high altitude long-endurance, unmanned aircraft system. The MQ-9's primary mission is as a persistent hunter-killer against emerging targets to achieve

  • Pilot dies in F-16 accident

    Hill Air Force Base officials confirmed an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot was killed at about 10:25 p.m. June 22 after the aircraft crashed on the Utah Test and Training Range about 35 miles south of Wendover, Utah. The pilot, Capt. George Bryan Houghton, 28, from the 388th Fighter Wing here, graduated

  • Kirkuk self-help project protects airfield assets, saves money

    Members from every 506th Air Expeditionary Group unit joined forces for a self-help project here to improve airfield security here in June. Security forces members, medics, civil engineers, air-freight controllers, air-traffic controllers and communications technicians united to fulfill one of the

  • F-16 crashes, search for pilot ongoing

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at the Utah Test and Training Range around 10:25 p.m. June 22, and Hill Air Force Base emergency responders are conducting a search for the pilot. No contact has been made with the pilot, and base officials located the F-16 crash site in a remote area of the Utah Test

  • Pararescuemen demonstrate special jump capabilities

    Pararescuemen from the 58th Rescue Squadron stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., demonstrated the rigged alternate method zodiac, or RAMZ, capabilities in the Caribbean June 9 for members of the Belize National Coast Guard and local media. Before the team jumped out of a C-130J Hercules into

  • AFRCC coordinates SAR for downed N.M. helicopter

    Controllers from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here helped local and state agencies search for a missing helicopter in the mountains near Santa Fe, N.M., late Tuesday night. The New Mexico State Police contacted AFRCC to ask for federal assistance in finding the helicopter and its three

  • Maintainers keep F-22s ready in Guam

    To support F-22 Raptors deployed here as part of U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Packages, a team of maintenance personnel are working behind the scenes to ensure that each flying mission is a success. The team of 150 Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Elmendorf

  • Andersen Airmen ensure disaster preparedness

    For Airmen assigned to the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron's readiness and emergency management flight, being better safe than sorry is not just a cliché, it's their job. These Airmen make sure the base and its personnel are prepared to deal with disasters ranging from typhoons to hazardous materials

  • Airmen test emergency response at Joint Base Balad

    Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here participated in a major accident response exercise June 5 at Joint Base Balad. "A MARE is an opportunity for the 332nd AEW disaster response force to conduct response actions, evaluate emergency response plans, solidify tactics, techniques and

  • Air Forces Southern officials commit to 'summer of engagement'

    Active-duty, Air Guard and Reserve Airmen from across the Air Force are set to begin a host of missions with the Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) team in South and Central America during the summer months of 2009. The surge in theater security cooperation missions in the U.S. Southern Command

  • AFSOUTH set to begin Operation Southern Partner in Caribbean

    More than 60 Airmen from across the Air Force are preparing to board a C-130J Hercules on May 30 to participate in the second iteration of "Operation Southern Partner" in seven Caribbean and Latin American nations. The Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)-led event is aimed at providing

  • Airmen in joint motor pool keep vehicles rolling

    Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here work with their Army compatriots in the base motor pool to keep the squadron's tactical vehicles running like clockwork. Four members of the Air Force security forces unit are part of a joint motor pool and learning more than they

  • Controllers keep aircraft moving

    Air traffic controllers here manage the base's runway that never rests, averaging 5,100 takeoffs and landings a month, or approximately 200 each day. Members of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron are responsible for anything within the base's air space, which extends out in a 5-mile

  • May 22 airpower summary: MQ-1Bs engage enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations May 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, the battle in Lashkar Gah concluded after additional

  • T-38 crash claims life of Edwards' pilot

    An Air Force test pilot student died May 21 when his jet trainer crashed north of Edwards Air Force Base. Captain Mark P. Graziano, 30, died when the T-38A Talon he was piloting crashed about nine miles north of the base here, near California City, Calif. Captain Graziano was assigned to the U.S.

  • T-38 crashes north of Edwards

    An Air Force T-38 Talon crashed at 1:15 p.m. May 21, about nine miles north of Edwards Air Force Base. The Edwards aircraft was on a flight-test training mission at the time of the accident. Two crewmembers were on board; their condition is unknown at this time. A board of officers will investigate

  • Predator crashes in eastern Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed May 14 in eastern Afghanistan. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The Predator's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance. A board of Air Force officials

  • Airmen, Soldiers make first jump from Ramstein C-130J

    As the ramp let down at 3,000 feet and the sunlight slipped into the cargo bay of a new C-130J Super Hercules, Air Force and Army paratroopers stood ready to execute the first jump from Ramstein Air Base's newest aircraft. As Ramstein transitions from the older C-130E Hercules, some 35 Airmen and

  • Air Force officials release C-17 accident investigation report

    Air Mobility Command here May 7 released the results of its investigation into the Jan. 30 mishap involving a C-17 Globemaster III that landed with retracted gear at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The Accident Investigation Board, convened by AMC officials, concluded the primary cause of the mishap

  • Predator crashes in eastern Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned Aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan May 8 in the early afternoon hours. The crash was not due to hostile fire, and there were no injuries or damage to property as a result of the crash. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted

  • Software proves effective in avoiding aircraft crashes

    Leading-edge software technology 25 years in the making by specialists in numerous Defense Department agencies and NASA has demonstrated a continuous 98 percent effectiveness rate of eliminating aircraft crashes, a NASA test flight director said. The primary development of the software technology

  • Keesler personnel to participate in LIFESAVER 2009

    Keesler AFB Airmen join local, state and federal agencies in "LIFESAVER 2009," a major federal coordinating center and national disaster medical system exercise being conducted May 5-7. With an estimated 2,000 participants, this is the largest "LIFESAVER" event since May 2005. "LIFESAVER 2009" will

  • School honors Colorado's last Vietnam MIA Airman

    Officials from the Air Force Intelligence School here named its auditorium in honor of Colorado's last missing in action Air National Guard member from the Vietnam War April 10 here. Colorado native Maj. Perry H. Jefferson was honored as members of the Colorado Air National Guard and

  • Predator crashes in eastern Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan April 21 in the early morning hours. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance. A board

  • 'Today's Air Force' features arrival of C-130J in Europe

    Three key stories in this edition of "Today's Air Force" include how Iraqis are expanding their role in security, Ramstein Air Base officials accepting delivery of their first C-130-J Super Hercules and Air Force Week 2009 kicking off in Hampton Roads, Va. In the Iraqi story, see how Airmen are

  • Busy BEEs keep base buzzing

    The "BEEs" here aren't as concerned with honey as they are the chemicals which could potentially be found on base. While the 379th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineering, or BEE, flight is responsible for many things, their primary concern here is the base water supply. "In the deployed

  • Iraqi surgeons attend annual conference in Germany

    Iraqi air force flight surgeons attended the annual U.S. Air Forces in Europe Flight Surgeon Conference held March 11 through 21 at Ramstein Air Base. Major (Dr.) Abdulrazzaq and Lt. (Dr.) Hazem Prior participated in seven sessions of partnering as part of a Multinational Security Transition Command

  • Safety experts spearhead efforts to minimize bird strikes

    Americans witnessed firsthand the severity of bird strikes when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 crash landed in the Hudson River in New York City after hitting a flock of birds in January. Lt. Col. Charles Wallace and his team of seven safety experts with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office here

  • Airmen in personal effects office take small items to heart

    Watches, coins, photos, dog tags and necklaces. To many, these are just items carried or worn by military members, even when serving in places like Iraq or Afghanistan. For families of the fallen, these simple items may be cherished keepsakes that serve as reminders of their son or daughter who paid

  • Dutch, U.S. air forces unite for training

    Boarding an airplane can be cumbersome. Most cabins are roughly 8 feet wide and 6 feet high, with an aisle barely wide enough to fit a person and a carry on. Imagine navigating through the cabin in the dark, loaded down with gear. Add an element of thick black smoke and the intense heat of a fire,

  • Ramstein welcomes new J-model C-130

    Ramstein's first J-model C-130 Super Hercules aircraft was welcomed by a capacity crowd April 7 during an arrival ceremony here. Tail number 8601, the first of 14 J-models in production for the 86th Airlift Wing, also serves as the first Air Force Super Hercules permanently stationed at an overseas

  • Airman missing from Vietnam War is identified

    The remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified recently and have been buried with full military honors, said officials from the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper Jr., from Phoenix, was buried April 3 at the National

  • Airmen get fallen warriors home

    Two Services Airmen at this air base in Southwest Asia would probably be happier if they never had to complete their primary duties, but are honored to do them when they have to. As members of the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron Mortuary Affairs Office and Readiness Office, Master Sgt.

  • F-22 crash claims life of Edwards pilot

    An Air Force F-22 Raptor crash March 25 near here claimed the life of an Air Force veteran and Lockheed Martin test pilot. David Cooley, 49, of Palmdale, Calif., died when the F-22 he was piloting crashed northeast of the base here. Mr. Cooley worked as a test pilot with Lockheed Martin, and was

  • F-22 crashes in California

    An Air Force F-22 Raptor from Edwards Air Force Base crashed about 10 a.m. March 25 approximately 35 miles northeast of the base.  The condition of the pilot is unknown at this time. The aircraft was on a test mission at the time of the accident. A board of officers will investigate the accident. As

  • C-17 arrives in New Zealand

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew of 14 from the 517th Airlift Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, arrived here March 18 for the 2009 Whenuapai Air Show. This is the first time since 1981 that a U. S. asset is participating in the yearly event, which began March 21, said U. S. Navy Chief Warrant

  • Osan exercise optimizes communication between forces

    More than 2,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors participating jointly with South Korean air force members in Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle in mid-March here have learned the key to success is communication.Despite some language barriers, the key players smoothly conduct the air and space

  • New Kandahar unit prepares for troop increase

    Kandahar Airfield officials activated the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron March 15 here as the NATO base prepares for the build-up of forces to support Operation Enduring Freedom.The newest airlift squadron in the Air Force will be flying the C-130J Hercules, and serve under the 451st Air

  • AF Africa commander addresses continental challenges

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa spoke about the increasingly focused role the U.S. is taking to bolster Africa's air capabilities during a March 9 visit to Air University here. "We must invest in the future of Africa," said Maj. Gen. Ronald R. "Ron" Ladnier Jr. The general's comments came on

  • Guard members assist car accident victim

    Air National Guard members from the 129th Rescue Wing here displayed their lifesaving skills as they aided a car crash victim March 9 near Suisun, Calif. Two combat rescue officers and four 131st Rescue Squadron pararescuemen were traveling north on Highway 80 to survey a potential new parachute

  • Air Force officials release F-16 accident report

    Catastrophic engine failure caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash on the flightline of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Nov. 12, 2008, Air Combat Command officials announced March 9 here. The $28.8 million aircraft was destroyed during impact and the subsequent fire. The pilot, who climbed out of the

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    A short circuit caused electrical fluctuations to the primary control module and other critical components, thus causing the crash of an MQ-1 Predator near Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2008, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released March 5 here. The

  • Squadron continues tradition, honors fallen comrades

    Members from the 1st Special Operations Squadron took off Feb. 26 from Kadena Air Base, Japan, on a MC-130H Combat Talon II to honor fallen brethren that were lost 28 years ago.A 1st SOS MC-130E, call sign Stray 59, crashed during an exercise killing eight crewmembers and 15 passengers Feb. 26,

  • Predator crashes northeast of Balad

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft stationed here crashed off base at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time Feb. 22. The Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft used primarily to conduct armed reconnaissance. A board will convene to investigate the

  • B-52 accident report released

    An improper stabilizer trim setting caused the July 21 crash of a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft northwest of Guam, according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released Feb. 13. Analysis of aircraft parts found during salvage operations revealed the aircraft's stabilizer

  • Niagara Falls firefighters respond to airliner crash

    The 914th Airlift Wing fire department from the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station here responded to a call for assistance from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport fire department at 12:57 a.m. Feb. 13. The 914th AW fire department responded with a P-19 fire truck and a foam trailer, two

  • U.S. commitment to Pacific region showcased in India

    About 150 U.S. military personnel and Department of Defense civilians are among the thousands of people from around the globe taking part in the Aero India 09 air show here. A cross-section of U.S. military aircraft and equipment, including the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules, F-16 Fighting