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U.S. Air Force News

  • Photo essay: Crews prepare for KC-135 mission

    Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron prepare KC-135 Stratotankers for a refueling mission Dec. 2, 2009, at an airfield here.  The squadron refuels  joint and coalition aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Crews train to fight fire

    Firefighters from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville, Fla., train with a live fire burn pit March 13 at the Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center here. The burn pit re-creates most scenarios of a real aircraft fire. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: CV-22 Osprey training mission

    Crewmembers from the 8th Special Operations Squadron participate in a CV-22 Osprey training mission here Feb. 1. The primary mission of the CV-22 is insertion, extraction, and resupply of unconventional warfare forces and equipment into hostile or enemy-controlled territory using air-land or airdrop

  • Photo essay: Deployed Airmen honor fallen on Memorial Day

    Deployed Airmen in the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing honored fallen but not forgotten service members during a Memorial Day ceremony May 30 in Southwest Asia. Colonel Patrick Mordente, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte, the 386th command chief, laid a

  • Photo essay: Dogs run final course

    Three military working dogs here are due to be medically retired April 6, and took a final run at the kennel obstacle course March 25.  The dogs and their partners are assigned to the 56th Security Forces.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Doolittle Raiders meet for 68th reunion

    Some of the remaining members of the Doolittle Raiders participate in a question and answer session with the media here April 16. The Raiders continue to inspire those servicing in the Air Force. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Drone recovery

    A crew from Florida Offshore demonstrated the recovery of a BQM-167 Air Force Subscale Aerial Target recently in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.  The Florida Offshore crew is contracted through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down

  • Photo essay: Earth Day kayak tour

    Kayakers drift down Turkey Creek here, April 21, during the base's second annual Earth Day kayak tour and celebration. The scenic tour showed off the wild and plant life here and helped close out a weeklong Earth Day celebration. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Eglin AFB active shooter exercise

    When Airmen enlist in the Air Force, they take an oath to defend the Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic."To uphold that vow, Airmen must remain vigilant and train to be prepared in the worst-case scenario. Airmen at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., participated an active shooter

  • Photo Essay: Eglin F-35 number increases to four

    Two F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighters were delivered here Aug. 31. Labeled as AF-10 and AF-11 by Lockheed Martin, the new JSFs bring the total count of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft here to four.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Eglin workers minimize pollutants

    Contract workers use a new air curtain incinerator to burn test materials here recently. The burner consumes massive amounts of the wood waste quickly and minimizes the amount of pollutants released.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Ellsworth Airmen keep B-1s flying

    Crew chiefs for the B-1 Lancer give it a close structural inspection here March 31 before the Lancer is ready for another mission.  They are assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Ellsworth team sets off big 'bang'

    The explosive ordnance disposal team from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron here set off shaped charges during training March 30. The training prepares the EOD team for real world problems. View slideshow

  • Photo essay: Ellsworth welcomes back deployed Airmen

    Base leaders, co-workers, family and friends welcome back Airmen returning from a six- month deployment in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom in Southwest Asia here July 28 at different times of the day.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Establishing a forward area refueling point in Japan

    Airmen assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group offload fuel from an MC-130P Combat Shadow while establishing a forward area refueling point here March 17. A forward area refueling point provides the capability to offload fuel to storage devices or other aircraft, increasing an aircraft's

  • Photo essay: Evacuation

    A group of nearly 200 Haitians evacuated the country on a C-17 Globemaster III at Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport here Jan. 23. Aircraft from all over the world are flying into the airport to drop off humanitarian aid and transport people out of the country in the aftermath of the

  • Photo essay: Exercise Cope North

    The U.S. Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force conduct exercise Cope North annually at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to increase combat readiness and interoperability, concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Exercise Eagle Flag 13-2

    Eagle Flag is designed for developing, testing and rehearsing the expeditionary combat support library of capabilities. Traditionally an air base opening exercise, it has evolved into a proof of concept and mission rehearsal for joint task force-port opening, close the operating location,

  • PHOTO ESSAY: Exercise Global Medic 2013

    Each year, service members from each Reserve component gather to test their capabilities and interoperability. View the slideshow below to catch a glimpse of how it went this year for Airmen and Soldiers in the medical career field during the exercise that was held at Fort McCoy, Wis.SLIDESHOW

  • Photo essay: Exercise Red Flag

    Members of the Michigan Air National Guard participate in exercise Red Flag here Feb. 24. The exercise is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the U.S. and its allies. View the sideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcon gymnasts compete against UC Davis

    The Falcons women's gymnast team competed against University of California Davis Jan. 30 in the Cadet Gymnasium here. Air Force lost the meet 191.575 to 185.300 despite two event titles. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons basketball wins home opener

    The Air Force Academy Falcons basketball team defeated the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 66-53 behind a balanced offensive attack here Nov. 14. The Falcons offensive game included 42 percent shooting from the 3-point range and a defense that held the Mountain Lions to just 1 of 14 for

  • Photo essay: Falcons beat Army Black Knights

    The Air Force came out on top in a best of three series with the Army's Black Knights in an Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinal March 12, at the Cadet Ice Arena here.View slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons defeat South Dakota State

    The Air Force Falcons went against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits March 5 in a baseball game held here at Falcon Field. The Falcons rallied with 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to win the contest 12-11. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons get out-Charged!

    The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons played the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in front of a  jammed-pack audience at the Cadet Ice Arena Oct. 17, 2009 here. The Chargers held off the Falcons for a 4-2 win.  Air Force opens Atlantic Hockey Association play this weekend as the Falcons host

  • Photo essay: Falcons outskate Huskies

    U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons beat the University of Connecticut Huskies 2-1 at the Academy's Cadet Ice Arena Jan. 8.  The following evening, Air Force and UConn skated to a 2-2 overtime tie. Air Force fell into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Hockey Association as the Falcons' record stands

  • Photo essay: Falcons sweep hockey series

    The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons swept a two-game series with American International College Dec. 4 through 5 at the Cadet Ice Arena here. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons vs. Aztecs

    The Air Force Falcons took on the San Diego State Aztecs at Falcon Field here April 22. The Falcons defeated the Aztecs 7-3.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons vs. Bears

    The Air Force Falcons took on the Northern Colorado Bears at Falcon Field here April 19. The Bears capitalized on a top-of-the-ninth home run to defeat the Falcons 6-5. (Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Falcons win home opener

    Falcons basketball team claim  victory (77-69) over Utah during the Falcons Mountain West Conference home opener Jan. 5. here.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Field training at Jacks Valley

    Basic cadets participate in the field training portion July 21 at the Jacks Valley Assault Course near here. Basic cadet training started June 25 and continues through Aug. 1.  The fall semester begins Aug. 6. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Flying a Hawk home

    Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load and secure an HH-60G Pave Hawk here for transit home on a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 9, 2009.  The Pave Hawk is attached to the 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, with a primary wartime mission of combat search and rescue.  View

  • Photo essay: Flying over the Sawtooth Mountains

    A six-ship formation of F-15 Eagles and F-15E Strike Eagles took to the sky flying over the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho Oct. 13, 2009. The aircraft are assigned to 366th Fighter Wing at nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Former SecAF receives Symington Award

    Former Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley was awarded the W. Stuart Symington Award Sept. 18. Named after the first Secretary of the Air Force the W. Stuart Symington Award is presented for the most significant contribution by a civilian in the field of national defense.

  • Photo essay: 'Fox NFL Sunday' team visits Bagram

    The "FOX NFL Sunday" broadcast team visited the Airmen of the 755th Air Expeditionary Group here. The team of Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson and Jay Glazer will do a live special broadcast from Bagram Airfield just three days before Veterans Day.  The

  • Photo essay: 'Friendship drop' over Egypt

    A multi-national group of paratroopers conducted a "friendship jump"  near Cairo Oct. 15, 2009, during Exercise Bright Star. Bright Star is a joint international military airdrop exercise which strengthens and enhances the cohesiveness of each country's participating forces. This year's participants

  • Photo essay: From Cape Canaveral to Vandenberg

    The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 1 landed here Dec. 3, marking advancement for the Air Force in experimental test missions. Vandenberg people in self-contained atmospheric suits conducted initial checks to ensure the vehicle and area were safe. The X-37B made an autonomous landing after 244 days in

  • Photo essay: Fuels on a freezing day at Misawa

    Airmen with the fuels management flight of the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron here ensures wing and transient aircraft receive fuel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in any type of weather.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Guard Eagles take flight

    Airmen from the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing train here Oct. 21. The wing provides air sovereignty alert support; protecting the Northeastern United States. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Guardsmen deploy in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn

    Members of the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing here prepare a KC-135 Stratotanker for deployment March 25, in support Operation Odyssey Dawn. The KC-135s will provide air-refueling support to coalition aircraft enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.View the slideshow.

  • PHOTO ESSAY: Guardsmen help Afghans build agriculture

    The Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team's mission is to continue the work set forth by the previous four Kentucky teams in assisting local Afghans in becoming agriculturally self-sufficient and developing their agriculture marketplace.View the SLIDESHOW here.(Courtesy of Air Forces

  • Photo essay: Gymnasts compete in tri-meet

    The Falcons women's gymnast team competed against Southeast Missouri State and Seattle-Pacific in the Cadet Gym here Feb. 20. The Air Force team placed second in a score of 188.00. Southeast Missouri came in first with 194.05 and Seattle Pacific finished with 187.075.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Honoring the fallen

    During a Memorial Day ceremony here May 30, volunteers place flags on the graves of men and women who died while serving in the military. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Honoring veterans

    This day in November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, the day World War I ended.  In 1938, Congress voted to make Nov. 11 a legal holiday in every state. After American forces had mobilized for World War II and fought in Korea, the

  • Photo essay: Humanitarian aid bound for tsunami relief effort

    A C-17 Globemaster III sits at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, as crews prepare to take off to deliver humanitarian supplies to the tsunami-devastated Samoa region in the South Pacific. A multiagency contingent from Hawaii, including active-duty Airmen at Hickam, Soldiers with the

  • Photo essay: Hunters track 'Igor'

    Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command 's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron known as the "Hurricane Hunters" fly a mission to collect data on Hurricane Igor here Sept. 17.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Independence Day

    The Air Force celebrates the Fourth of July with fireworks, parades and celebrations worldwide.View slideshow from events in 2009.

  • PHOTO ESSAY: Inprocessing Day 2013

    The last Thursday in each June is known as Inprocessing Day at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. This is the day appointees officially become Academy cadets. View the slideshow below to see how Inprocessing Day went for the class of 2017.View SLIDESHOW.

  • Photo essay: inspecting the mail

    A team from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron must inspect mail that comes into Baghdad that is improperly labeled, doesn't have a return address or gets lost in the system.  The Iraqi government returns the mail to the Joint Military Mail Terminal, or JMMT,  on good faith, but the

  • Photo essay: It's a dog's life at Bagram

    Staff Sgt. Mitchell Stein and Artus, his military working dog, work an entry control point here Feb. 2.  Sergeant Stein and Artus are assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Japanese royalty pay homage to America's fallen

    Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid tribute to the interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific July 15 here. The ceremony included the laying of a chrysanthemum wreath, the playing of "Taps" and a joint flyover by U.S. Navy and Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft.View

  • Photo essay: Japan's aftermath

    A joint team of Airmen and Marines fly over the Sendai Airport here March 13 to survey the aftermath of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the region. The service members are assisting with Japan's earthquake and tsunami recovery effort.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: JB Langley Airmen prepare for readiness

    Members from the 1st Maintenance Squadron sharpen their skills during an operational readiness exercise here Jan. 8. The exercise works as a test to prepare Airmen if faced with a disaster, imminent threat or short-notice orders to deploy.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Joint Enlisted Council lift spirits at veterans home

    Members of the National Capital Region Jointed Enlisted Council took time out of their busy schedules to help lift the spirits of some of our armed forces veterans. The members visited the U.S. Soldier's and Airmen's Home in Washington, D.C., to spend time with the residents, many who are World War

  • Photo essay: Joint forces conduct drop zone survey

    A joint special forces team of U.S  Air Force combat controllers and U.S. Army pathfinders in a U.S. Navy HH-60 Seahawk helicopter conducted a drop zone survey here Jan. 24.  View slideshow.

  • Photo essay: K-9s show off in Hawaii

    Military working dog handlers from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps brought their partners to the 2010 Hawaiian Islands Working Dog Competition here which ran from Nov. 15 to 19.View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Kadena Airmen jump over le Shima, Japan

    Pararescuemen participated in high-altitude low-opening jumps over Ie Shima Island, Japan near here Dec. 23, 2009. The jump was part of routine training for the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and the 31st Rescue Squadron. View the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Kadena Airmen learn to 'survive'

    More than 200 Airmen take part in the "Ability to Survive and Operate" course Feb. 24 through March 2 here.  Members of the 18th Munitions Squadron  trained to operate in an hostile environment covering mobility protective wear, post-attack reconnaissance sweeps, and unidentified explosive ordnance

  • Photo essay: Kadena Airmen participate in operational readiness exercise

    Airmen participate in simulated power outages, minor on-the-job injuries, bomb threats and aerial attack scenarios during Beverly High here May 19. Beverly High is an operational readiness exercise, during which Airmen continue to perform their normal duties while also participating in scenarios