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U.S. Air Force News

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 1

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 1.In Afghanistan Aug. 31, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and a RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft provided close-air support for search and recovery

  • Memorial dedication honors American, Russian aviators

    American, Russian, French and Canadian dignitaries, to include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, gathered here Aug. 27 to honor Russian and American aviators and troops responsible for ferrying more than 8,000 American-built warplanes from the Midwest through Canada to Fairbanks during World War

  • Keesler Air Force Base: One year after Katrina

    Bent but not broken by the worst natural disaster in the nation's history, Keesler's recovery continues to exceed expectations. "The damage to the base by Hurricane Katrina was a staggering $950 million. With that in mind, no one imagined in the days immediately after Aug. 29, 2005, we'd be where we

  • F-16 accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

  • B-2 Spirit flies over St. Louis

    There was a unique sight to behold over St. Louis Aug. 10 as an Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft flew above the city as part of the celebration of the inaugural Air Force Week. The aircraft, which is based at the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., was trailed by a C-130J Hercules from the

  • Air Force Week continues in St. Louis

    Activities celebrating the first Air Force Week continue today with the opening of the Air Force interactive exhibit "Cross Into the Blue" and special guest appearances at the St. Louis Science Center."Cross Into the Blue," a high-tech, interactive exhibit featuring an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an

  • Bearing assembly failure caused F-16 crash in Utah

    A bearing assembly failure caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash in an unpopulated dry area close to Carrington Island in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, during a training mission March 30, according to an Air Force report released Aug. 7. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, sustaining minor

  • Medic discovers more about himself during PRT mission

    When a suicide bomber slammed and ignited his missile-laden vehicle into the Humvee in front of Staff Sgt. Eric Mathiasen, the Air Force medic exploded into action. He did not think about his wife or two children, or that there was unexploded ordnance lying about. He just grabbed his medical bag and

  • Air Force Week kicks off in St. Louis

    The first Air Force Week kicked off here Aug. 6 during the St. Louis Cardinals-Milwaukee Brewers game at Busch Stadium with Airmen participating in the toss of the first pitch and a flyover by Missouri National Guard F-15 Eagles. Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander of U.S. Transportation

  • Awareness crucial in motorcycle safety

    The thrill of motorcycle riding is one that many Americans will experience during these 101 critical days of summer. With gas prices and temperatures rising, many people feel that now is the perfect time to get on their bikes. But before doing so, motorcyclists should consider a few things before

  • Medical team transports newborn from Puerto Rico

    Seth and Stephanie Parker held each other's hands and waited. As the plane touched down at 12:05 a.m. July 22 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, they smiled at each other and looked at their son. Four-day-old Stuart lay across from his parents on a medical cart surrounded by doctors, nurses and

  • RAM squad exercises ability to rescue coalition forces

    Firefighting tends to be a strenuous and dangerous job, requiring its practitioners to place themselves in harm's way to save lives and property.A team of 20 Air National Guard firefighters at Ali Base have volunteered to take that responsibility a step further by working on the Rescue Air Mobility

  • Accident report released on Predator crash

    Pilot error caused an MQ-1L Predator unmanned aerial vehicle to crash March 20 during a reconnaissance mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to an aircraft accident investigation report released today. There were no injuries in the incident and the aircraft crashed in an

  • A potential for disaster

    The two green lights staring down 1st Lt. Michael Seltzer were a problem. A third light, which remained dark, indicated trouble: the landing gear at the nose of the lieutenant's F-16 Fighting Falcon was not down and locked into place. Low on fuel after a five-hour mission over Iraq, and flying hot

  • ACC releases details on Shaw F-16 crash

    An F-16CJ Fighting Falcon pilot ejected from his aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean April 5 after experiencing a gravity-induced loss of consciousness and awaking to find his aircraft in an unrecoverable dive, according to an Air Combat Command report released today. The pilot suffered serious

  • Guardsmen provide quick response to plane crash

    Pararescuemen from the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron helped stabilize and transport the passenger of a single-engine plane that crashed near Resurrection Pass June 27.Alaska State Troopers requested the Alaska National Guard's assistance in responding to the crash around 8 p.m.

  • Missing World War II Airmen identified

    Nine Airmen missing in action from World War II have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors, officials from the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced June 27.The nine are 2nd Lt. Hugh Johnson Jr., Montgomery, Ala.; 2nd Lt. Byron Stenen,

  • Khobar Towers changed Air Force focus on force protection

    It was around 10 p.m. on June 25, 1996, when Staff Sgt. Alfredo Guerrero went to check the security post on the rooftop of an eight-story Khobar Towers apartment building at Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia. He asked the sentry on watch if everything was OK. Below them, residents in the rooms were

  • Smoke-free clinic encourages healthy lifestyle

    Encouraging healthy lifestyles is the focus of a new policy at the 36th Medical Group here.A no smoking policy is now in effect for everyone assigned to the 36th MDG while they are on its campus, including the parking spaces adjacent to the clinic. Signs are being erected to request visitors keep

  • Site dedicated to Pentagon's Sept. 11 victims

    In a solemn ceremony under sunny skies, the ground that nearly five years ago was the scene of a catastrophic attack was dedicated June 15 to the memory of those who were killed. Senior Defense Department leaders, Cabinet members, members of Congress, family members, friends and Pentagon employees

  • C-5 accident investigation board complete

    The results of an investigation into the C-5 Galaxy crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on April 3 found that human error was the cause, Air Mobility Command officials released today.The accident investigation board determined the pilots and flight engineers did not properly configure, maneuver and

  • Teams combine efforts to save lives

    In an effort to build better relationships and save lives, the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire Department and Manas International Airport Emergency Response team joined forces and trained June 6 to 7. “We have a memorandum of agreement that allows either party to request

  • Software team finds new mission with C-5

    Now that the C-141 Starlifter has officially retired after 43 years of providing strategic global airlift, those who cared for it are left behind to find a new purpose. The 402nd Maintenance Group software support team is filling the void with a new workload -- the C-5 Galaxy. “It’s an engineer’s

  • Loadmasters help reposition Australian Defense Forces

    The U.S. Pacific Command is using its strategic airlift capability to help the Australian Defense Force. At the request of the Australian government, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, are moving equipment and troops from the Solomon Islands back to Australia. This will

  • C-130J Hercules displays interoperability at Berlin Air Show

    It was interoperability in action at the Berlin Air Show on May 17 when a medium extended air defense system was loaded onto a C-130J Hercules. The system is designed as a lightweight launcher capable of shooting down aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. It was a new missile system on a

  • U.S. opens Berlin Air Show with ‘Spirit’

    A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., named the “Spirit of Berlin” helped kick off the Berlin Air Show when it flew today before opening day spectators. The C-17 crew, assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing, is part of a U.S. contingent joining more than 1,000 exhibitors from 42

  • Behind-the-scenes work continues as air show set to begin

    One of the world’s premier air shows gets underway May 16, but military organizers have been working behind the scenes for several months to ensure a successful display of U.S. military aviation at the 2006 Berlin Air Show. Initial groundwork began two years ago when the previous Berlin Air Show

  • Global Hawk operations reach new high

    Battlefield awareness has reached new levels with Global Hawk production-model aircraft flying in the U.S. Central Command Air Forces theater. Reaching a breakthrough point in April, the Global Hawk team has maximized the aircraft’s sorties, collecting more than 96 percent of the target area --

  • Unique aircraft repair saves millions

    It was a long time in coming, but the repair of an F-16 damaged in an accident here December 2000 will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Originally in for depot modifications to extend the life of the aircraft, the Virginia Air National Guard Fighting Falcon experienced an involuntary gear

  • Missing World War II Airmen identified

    The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, or DPMO, announced today that two members of a four-man Army Air Forces crew missing in action from World War II have been identified. They are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. The crew is pilot Capt. Douglas Wight of

  • C-5 recovery efforts continue at Dover

    One month after a C-5 Galaxy crash-landed less than a mile short of the runway here, recovery operations are proceeding on schedule, officials said. All 17 people on board survived the April 3 crash.“We started the recovery effort the same day of the mishap and have been working every day since,”

  • TV writer embeds with medical teams in Iraq

    In a first for Hollywood, the Air Force was able to embed a screenwriter with a medical unit in Iraq for research on a proposed television series. Jeff Eckerle visited the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq, from April 7 to 16 in order to help develop the series, based in part on the

  • Air Force sergeants MIA from Vietnam War identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, or DPMO, announced May 2 that the remains of two Airmen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified. They were crewmembers on a C-130 Hercules that was shot down in 1972.The Airmen are Tech. Sgt. Donald Hoskins of Madison,

  • Air Force test team launches 'overhauled' Iraqi aircraft

    Airmen from several Air Force bases spent two months preparing, disassembling, rebuilding and testing an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SLX, which had its first test flight here April 25.The aircraft is considered experimental, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It is designed to be an

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.In Iraq April 25, coalition forces killed 12 terrorists during a raid of a foreign terrorist safe house. Upon arrival at the target, coalition ground troops came under direct fire and called for an air strike to neutralize

  • Airmen missing in action from WWII identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office has announced that the remains of 11 U.S. Airmen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Capt. Thomas Paschal, El Monte, Calif.; 1st Lt.

  • Doolittle Raiders celebrate 64th reunion

    The Doolittle Raiders started the celebration of their 64th reunion this year with a solemn goblet ceremony April 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The ceremony, normally held in private, was opened to the media to honor the significance of the historical Tokyo Raid on April 18, 1942. With eight of the 16

  • Reserve aircrew airlifts CE teams supporting war on drugs

    A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew flew civil engineers to this tropical isle as part of ongoing support for the war on drugs. The mission also provided an opportunity for the aircrew to maintain their proficiency.The transport started its circuitous mission April 7 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.,

  • Dover Airmen stabilize C-5 crash site

    When the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief responded to an emergency notification here April 3, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “Anytime you see an aircraft not sitting on its wheels, it is worse than you expected,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dwight Davis.More than 20 firefighters arrived to find

  • Not on our watch

    Sirens scream as emergency vehicles approach the scene of a car crash. A distraught teen runs around the scene frantically. Several people are injured in the crash, and a lifeless body lies sprawled on the hood of the car.Fortunately for the driver, this is only a reenactment. The real thing could

  • Luke F-16 crashes

    An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing crashed at about 9:51 a.m. today during a routine training mission approximately two miles southwest of the base. The pilot ejected safely and is being treated at a local medical center. A board of officers will investigate the

  • Pilot in F-16 crash treated and released

    The F-16 Fighting Falcon student pilot whose plane crashed April 11 was treated and released from a local medical center after safely ejecting from the aircraft. Capt. Jason Attaway, assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, was on a two-ship student training mission heading toward an air-to-air

  • Shaw pilot located after crash

    The pilot of the F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned here that crashed April 5 at around 5:40 p.m. was found by the U.S. Coast Guard about two hours later and taken to a nearby U.S. Navy ship for stabilization. Capt. Ted Shultz, assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron here, was then transported via Coast

  • Wings-level landing might have saved C-5 crash survivors

    A veteran C-5 Galaxy pilot said all 17 people survived the April 3 plane crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., mainly because the pilot did his job. Col. Udo McGregor said the “100 percent reason” everyone aboard survived the crash was because the pilot did a wings-level landing. “The survivors are

  • C-5 crash doesn’t diminish historian’s view of aircraft

    The C-5 Galaxy crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 3 placed the aging aircraft in the spotlight once again. With no deaths reported, military officials are cleaning the crash site and are convening a board of officers to investigate the cause of the accident. But the crash does not tarnish

  • Officials release C-5 crash survivor list

    Air Force officials released the names of the 17 survivors of the C-5 Galaxy crash here April 3. Survivor names, base and medical conditions are as follows: Capt. Brian Lafreda, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Robert Moorman, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Harland Nelson, Dover, fair Master Sgt. Timothy Feiring, Dover,

  • Family liaison officers help shoulder burdens

    For some Airmen, going above and beyond is their call of duty. The Family Liaison Officer Program, or FLO, was designed to help the families of Airmen who have died or been injured. FLO Airmen, all of them senior NCOs or commissioned officers, assist families with everything from the small stuff --

  • 17 Airmen survive Dover C-5 crash

    The 17 Airmen aboard the C-5 Galaxy that crashed near Dover Air Force Base, Del., today all survived, a 436th Airlift Wing spokesman said. However, there is still no official word on the condition of the survivors, wing spokesman 1st Lt. Jamal Beck said. “We’re still gathering information,” he said.

  • Alaska Air Guard rescues state trooper whose plane crashed

    Members of the Alaska Air National Guard saved a state trooper March 22 after his personal Piper Cub aircraft crashed 90 miles north of Dillingham. The pilot, Justin Rodgers, is a trooper with the Dillingham post of the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement. Officer Rodgers and his father, Charles,

  • Civil Air Patrol volunteers affected by hurricanes

    During Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, hundreds of aircraft flew missions to evacuate the stranded residents of New Orleans. But, it wasn't just military aircraft running rescue missions in the congested skies above the hurricane-stricken region. Members of America's Civil Air Patrol also provided

  • MQ-1 Predator crashes in Iraq

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, crashed at about 3:30 a.m. today while operating in Iraq. Airmen and Soldiers recovered the wreckage and returned it to its home base.The UAV was based with the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and being

  • Joint rescue saves stranded scuba divers

    Thanks to the combined efforts of Airmen from Kadena Air Base and local Japanese responders here, two scuba divers were rescued early Monday morning following a five-hour search and rescue operation. The two scuba divers -- a local Okinawan and a U.S. Marine -- were found clinging to the bottom of

  • F-16 crashes into Korean West Sea

    An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 35th Fighter Squadron here crashed into the West Sea during a training mission at about 9:30 a.m. today. The aircraft's pilot ejected safely and was rescued by a South Korean air force helicopter at about 10:25 a.m. The pilot was transported to the Kunsan

  • Daring and dedication: that others may live

    Man figured out how to fly. Then he left it up to Air Force pararescue jumpers to figure out how to rescue him from the jungle, the ocean, the mountains and hostile territory when a plane crashes. The need for a highly trained rescue force was highlighted in 1943. In a rescue famous in pararescue

  • U.S. medics aid accident victims in Honduras

    Airmen and Soldiers treated five Cuban citizens when their car crashed through the base’s perimeter fence March 1. The driver lost control of the car and ran off the road at approximately 6:15 a.m., rolling the vehicle several times and ultimately crashing through Soto Cano Air Base’s perimeter

  • Guard rescue wing still making mark on history

    Amid the quiet picturesque towns sprinkled across Long Island, N.Y., are more than 800 Airmen who are a part of history. They are the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing -- a unit that battled the “Perfect Storm,” witnessed the TWA Flight 800 disaster, supported response efforts after the

  • General Scott, “God Is My Co-Pilot” author, dead at 97

    Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott Jr., World War II fighter ace and author of the 1943 book “God Is My Co-Pilot” has died. The general passed away Feb. 27 in Warner Robins after a stroke. He was 97. Though the general retired from the Air Force in 1957, for the following decades he continued to serve the

  • Coalition mercy missions: Bringing heroes home

    The thunder of the C-130 Hercules engine vibrates through the cabin as the aircraft lifts off of the runway. Today’s mission is different than most. Today, Australians and Americans leave pallets and passengers behind, making room to gather the wounded and bring them back home. Affectionately called

  • International students receive eye-opening glimpse of America

    Twenty-one international pilots in training here visited Atlanta Feb. 18 to 20 for a glimpse into America’s history and culture. Maj. William Hendrickson, base international liaison officer, organized the trip to expose the international military members to a side of American culture not locally

  • DOD identifies Airmen killed in helicopter crash

    The Defense Department has announced the names of two Airmen and eight Marines killed in a Feb. 17 helicopter crash while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Ten servicemembers died when two CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden near Ras Siyyan in northern Djibouti, while

  • Air Force officer MIA from Vietnam War is identified

    The remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. The announcement was made by the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, or DPMO, Feb. 3. The Airman is Col. Eugene D.

  • Last WC-130H departs Keesler

    The last of a generation of aircraft lifted gently off the runway here Jan. 12. “This is the end of an era. For years the H model performed magnificently meeting the needs of the weather mission; however, it is time to move on,” said Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, commander of the 403rd Wing. “The increased

  • Kadena pilot in good condition

    An F-15 Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron here crashed at approximately 10 a.m. today during an air-to-air training mission. The location of the crash site was at an area known as W-173, an over-water training zone about 65 miles (55 nautical miles) northeast of here. The fighter jet was part of

  • Airman killed in aircraft crash

    An Air Force officer was among four killed Jan. 10 in the crash of a T-39 Sabreliner training aircraft in Walker County, Ga. First Lt. Jason Davis, 28, was a student navigator with Training Squadron 86 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. He entered the Air Force on Nov. 14, 2001. The others killed

  • Wynne: AF needs to recapitalize

    With the combination of aging and heavily used equipment, the Air Force needs recapitalization across the board, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. In past discussions about Air Force recapitalization, aircraft usually took center stage. Although aircraft still need to be

  • 2005: an Air Force year to remember

    It’s going to be hard to forget 2005, with the war on terrorism, tsunami response, hurricanes and floods. But light did find its way through the darkness. Most memorable are the Airmen who lent a helping hand to those in desperate need. This year also brought new technology, a continued presence at

  • Hurricane hunters close out record season

    The "Hurricane Hunters" of Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew their last mission of the record 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season in December. Squadron aircrews flew more than 145 missions into 25 storms and logged more than 1,500 flight hours. They did this while

  • Bagram A-10s take fight to enemy

    A-10 Thunderbolt IIs continue taking the fight to the enemy by providing close air support to U.S. and coalition forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.  Shortly after deploying in September to this base at the foot of the Hindu Kush mountains from Davis-Monthan Air Base, Ariz., the

  • Routine commander’s call … sort of

    Many bases have a commander’s call right before the holiday season to see everybody off safely and wish them a merry vacation. It was no different  here … except for how the information was delivered.The stage of the base theater looked like a late-night talk show, complete with a band, desk, couch,

  • Firefighters ready for anything

    When many deployed Airmen receive a tasking, they normally have a day or even a week to complete it. For one group of Airmen, their deadline is only minutes, and it could be the difference between life and death. The responsibility of the men and women of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer

  • C-130J gets 4-star fly-in

    Little Rock’s two newest C-130J Hercules received a four-star welcome today from Gen. William R. Looney III, commander of Air Education and Training Command. The C-130Js flew in a two-ship formation helmed by General Looney and Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing and Little Rock AFB commander.

  • McChord Airman earns top leadership award

    A joint tactical air controller with the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Lewis is the junior enlisted recipient of the 2005 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. Senior Airman Grailin Blamer was recognized for his quick and cool-headed thinking while providing air cover for Soldiers

  • Computer program crash was a good thing

    There's nothing like a computer program crash to ruin your day, especially when it’s used to track patients in the Air Force’s largest medical facility. But with luck, a computer expert can help figure out the problem. And if you’re really lucky, the solution can be even better than the original.

  • Lost Airmen laid to rest at Arlington

    After spending the last 37 years entombed in a glacier, two Airmen were finally laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Col. Wilfred B. Crutchfield and Lt. Col. Ivan E. O’Dell received full military honors at their Dec. 7 burial ceremony, with several family members in attendance. “I appreciate

  • Radar unit helps rescue glider crash victims

    Radar analysis provided by the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron at the Western Air Defense Sector here helped in the rescue of two people crash landed their glider in remote southern California mountains. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter rescued the instructor pilot and a student

  • Hickam quiet on this Dec. 7

    The Pacific Air Forces headquarters building -- and this base -- is quiet today, the 64th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But on Dec. 7, 1941, it was a major target during the infamous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field that drew the United States into World

  • Little Rock gets fifth ‘J-Herc’

    Airmen fighting and training to fight the global war on terrorism have a new weapon -- a fifth C-130J Hercules. Lt. Gen. Dennis Larsen, Air Education and Training Command vice commander, delivered the new Hercules to the base’s Dec. 6 and added another first to his career. “This is the first C-130

  • Moody rescue crews receive Mackay Trophy

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrews received the Mackay Trophy from Gen. John D. W. Corley, the Air Force vice chief of staff, at a ceremony here Dec. 5. The 13 Airmen earned the award for rescuing five Soldiers whose helicopter crashed in a sandstorm near Kharbut, Iraq, in April 2004. The

  • Evaluators put ‘Js’ through the paces

    Active duty, Reserve and Guard C-130J Airmen put the aircraft through its wartime paces here during a joint training exercise. Airmen worked with Soldiers at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., to test the airplane last month. The exercise tested the aircraft’s ability to

  • Vandenberg Airmen put eyes in sky

    Somewhere on Vandenberg, two Airmen wearing berets and rifle slings have their heads in a monitor as they fly a remote control plane. The Airmen are demonstrating a new capability for security, surveillance, reconnaissance, battle damage assessment and more, in the form of a four-pound,

  • Mishap investigation training changes course

    Figuring out what causes an airplane to crash is no easy task. But many flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists and some psychologists will be part of an aircraft mishap investigation at some point in their careers. So the more they know about what to do, the better. To better prepare students for

  • Air Force releases F-16 accident report

    A fuel leak and fire caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon landing at Lamar Airport, Colo., June 28 to leave the runway and crash, the Air Force announced today. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and suffered minor injuries. There was no private property destroyed, and the airport sustained minor damage.

  • Small team has Herculean task

    Little known to many here is a team of 30 operators, engineers and contractors vital to the training of C-130 Hercules aircrews around the world. The team oversees more than 1,700 training courses, more than $500 million in contracts and training simulators in 10 locations worldwide. Detachment 3,

  • Fire rescue team supports combat operations

    The role of Air Force firefighters is changing here, with tents replacing fire station, dirt airfields and, at times, rocket attacks. In the last six months, a six-man Air Force fire and crash rescue unit has gone on five missions into some of Afghanistan’s most remote areas. There was enough

  • Pararescuemen continue Pakistan humanitarian relief

    Above the mountainous countryside of northern Pakistan, two Air Force pararescuemen aboard a Russian-made MI-8 helicopter survey areas where people may need relief supplies. These Airmen, known as PJs, are part of a unit that traveled halfway around the world to participate in the ongoing

  • Accident report out on Iraqi Comp Air 7SL

    Air Force Special Operations Command ended its investigation into the May 30 crash of an Iraqi air force Comp Air 7SL aircraft in Iraq that killed five Airmen. The primary purpose of the investigation was to set forth factual information concerning the accident. But because the investigation lacked

  • Cadets designing, building unmanned aerial vehicles

    At the Sensor-based Intelligent Robotics Laboratory in the department of electrical and computer engineering here, cadets and faculty are designing and building more sophisticated autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. These UAVs will able to communicate with each other and search, track and destroy

  • Rescue squad puts training to test

    The blades of the Army UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter beat the air as four firefighters rushed to it with 200 pounds of specialized extrication gear. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen knew this time it wasn’t a drill. Two trucks were in a near head-on collision 10 minutes

  • C-130J Hercules undergoes new test

    As part of the second phase of the C-130J Hercules qualification test and evaluation, the aircraft will fly airdrop and formation-drop operations later this month. The aircraft from here will take part in an exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., from Nov. 13 to 17. The

  • Save-A-Life tour is an eye-opener

    Travis members experienced the dangers of driving under the influence this week when the Save-A-Life tour visited here. The tour uses a drunk-driving simulator that allows people to experience first-hand how alcohol impairs their driving skills. The machine has an instrument panel and three screens,

  • UAVs hunt ponderosa pine parasites

    Researchers in the Academy’s Department of Biology here are developing a low-cost solution to detect infected trees using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. There are more than 9,884 acres of woodland forest on the academy, dominated by ponderosa pine trees. Several years of severe drought thinned the forest

  • Food service workers die in auto accident

    An investigation is under way to determine the cause of a one-vehicle accident that killed three females Oct. 31 in front of one of the gates here. Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next to kin. The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. when a four-door sedan traveling

  • Laos duty helps sergeant put her job into perspective

    An Army Golden Knight parachutist landed at Sheppard’s salute to America’s warfighters air show streaming the familiar black Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag. It was an emotional moment for many of the spectators at the Oct. 15 event. But it was an especially emotional moment for Tech. Sgt.

  • Remains of missing World War II Airmen returning home

    The remains of three U. S. servicemen, missing in action since 1941, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Augustus J. Allen, of Myrtle Springs, Texas; Staff Sgt. James D. Cartwright, of Los Angeles,

  • Eglin firemen keep NASCAR teams safe

    When a multicar crash happens at Talladega Superspeedway or when crewmembers get hurt along pit road, there is a group of professionals always ready to put their lives on the line to save another -- firemen. Four firefighters from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., John Piccuito, J.R. Suddarth, Jimmy Reed

  • Officials: Catastrophic events caused U-2 crash

    A catastrophic, cascading sequence of events, beginning with the inflight failure of the power takeoff shaft, caused a U-2S surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to crash June 22 in Southwest Asia, killing the pilot, according to Air Force investigators. The aircraft was returning to a

  • Marines turn up the heat for Airmen on Okinawa

    Firefighters have a common enemy, regardless of the color of their uniforms. And Marines here recently assisted Airmen to maximize training against this dangerous foe.Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron here conducted simulated aircraft fire training

  • C-141 approaches historical conclusion as last flight nears

    Since its first flight Dec. 17, 1963, the C-141 Starlifter has enjoyed a prestigious history.The last chapter of that history will be written in October when the Air Force's last C-141 unit, the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, starts replacing its Starlifters with the

  • Arctic search-and-rescue exercise ends

    U.S., Russian and Canadian pararescuemen concluded a weeklong exercise here Sept. 16 that tested the three countries’ ability to conduct search-and-rescue operations in the Arctic region.Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise 05 concluded with a freefall jump from an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 P/N

  • Base photographers document history for future generations

    Photographers here are proving that a picture is truly worth a thousand words in fighting the war on terrorism. “Our images tell the military story to the American public, our children and their children, and beyond,” said Master Sgt. Maurice Hessel, base multimedia center manager and still