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  • Wright-Patterson AFB hosts 23rd Air Force Marathon

    The Air Force Marathon is a host of fitness and family events, including a 1K kid's race, a full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K runs, with rain delaying the start of the 10K, full and half marathons.

  • Wright-Patterson AFB opens cyber defense facility

    One of the Air Force’s ongoing challenges is to create processes, infrastructure and capabilities to counter threats to its weapon systems. To address this, organizations are looking at creative ways to forge partnerships and alliances to advance the cyber resiliency of weapon systems by protecting

  • Wright-Patterson Airmen earn top safety award

    The Star award, which is the highest level of recognition under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program, was presented to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officials here Dec. 9. Mandated in 2006 by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, VPP is a

  • Wright-Patterson Airmen take over Hickam air operations

    Airmen of the 87th Aerial Port Squadron from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, flew into Hickam AFB and took over air operations here. For two weeks, Reserve Airmen from the 87th APS will be responsible for running the air terminal operations center, freight, fleet, passenger services,

  • Wright-Patterson celebrates an essential step in aviation

    One-hundred years of practical flight were celebrated Oct. 5 on the grounds Orville and Wilbur Wright used to test their legendary Wright Flyer -- launching an aviation era. Mark Dusenberry, pilot and creator of the world's only exact replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer, re-visited the historic moment,

  • Wright-Patterson employee to receive 'Extreme Home Makeover'

    A Wright-Patterson Air Force Base civilian employee living in Beavercreek, Ohio, will receive a complete home redo and be featured on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" television program tentatively planned to air this fall. Show producers selected James Terpenning, who is confined to a

  • Wright-Patterson prepares for aircraft threatened by Hanna

    Officials from the 88th Air Base Wing here are preparing to receive aircraft and their associated aircrews, maintenance and security personnel from several East Coast military installations threatened by approaching Tropical Storm Hanna. The first aircraft are slated to arrive Sept. 3 from

  • Wright-Patterson unit earns Dr. James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence Award

    Air Force and contract organizations teamed up to garner an Air Staff-level award recognizing the Air Force Materiel Command program office with the most improved aircraft maintenance and logistics readiness performance.Members of the 702nd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force

  • Wright-Patterson unit wins Defense secretary logistics award

    Defense Department officials here announced Aug. 6 the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing was named the winner of the Secretary of Defense System Level Performance-Based Logistics Award. The wing staff directs all acquisition and sustainment activities for the F-22 Raptor and is part of the

  • Wright-Patterson, NMUSAF pay tribute to Doolittle Raid 75th anniversary

    Friends, family and fans from around the country came together to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid April 17-18, 2017, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The April 18, 1942, Doolittle Raid on Tokyo was an

  • Writer, Airman finds beauty through adversity in flowers

    “Beauty comes in different forms. When we see beauty, we assume that it had a great life; but there is more than meets the eye. Even the most beautiful soul comes from a place of hardship and sorrow. There are many tragedies that happen to us all; whether it is domestic abuse or sexual trauma, we

  • WW II pilot awarded Distinguished Service Cross

    In a long overdue award ceremony here Feb. 2, an American hero was presented the Army's Distinguished Service Cross for leading a formation of B-24s on an extremely dangerous mission during World War II. Then-Capt. Walter T. Holmes, operations officer for the 68th Bombardment Squadron, 44th

  • WW II veteran receives Distinguished Flying Cross

    On Jan. 11, 1944, a young first lieutenant helped land a battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress on a small rural airfield near Cambridge, England.Almost 60 years later, Francis Hoad, 80, was recognized for his heroic efforts during a ceremony here Nov. 22 when U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and U.S.

  • WW II veteran receives Purple Heart after 60 years

    A 24-year-old navigator was wounded during a bombing mission over Germany on Sept. 13, 1944, at the height of World War II. Nearly 60 years later, retired Lt. Col. Wayne Ehlers received the Purple Heart he earned when shrapnel flew through his oxygen mask, cut his microphone line and smashed into

  • WWII Airman receives belated Purple Heart

    March 21 was a special day for one Airman. It was the day that he received his Purple Heart Medal. It was a proud day, and a long overdue one at that. Mr. Leo Bach received his medal after suffering injuries to his right leg and back after bailing out of his B-17 Flying Fortress nearly 62 years ago.

  • WWII ammunition finds new life in war on terrorism

    A team of Air Force weapons specialist turned to ammunition first introduced into service in 1942 to provide lower cost training ammo for the AC-130 Gunship's 40mm cannon. Gunship training with the 40mm Bofors cannon normally calls for high explosive incendiary ammunition produced in the 1970s and

  • WWII aviator returns to Guam after 71 years, gets unexpected surprise

    The year was 1945 during the tail end of World War II. The sound of roaring aircraft engines and boots on the ground filled the air, raising decibel levels to resounding heights. For Rowland Ball, now 91, the sounds became familiar and today serve as a nostalgic reminder of his time as a B-29

  • WWII bomber crew members awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

    It was a warm summer morning when the crew of the Flak Man, a B-24 Liberator, joined other bombers and their escort fighters on a daring mission. They flew from Pantanella, Italy, and played a key role in the bombing of oil refineries 700 miles away near Ploesti, Romania. The location was of

  • WWII female pilot honored among brothers, sisters

    More than 70 years later, as the last of “the greatest generation” dwindles and the WASPs’ male counterparts are laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with befitting honors, a WASP is at last also being honored for her service. During a military funeral service Sept. 7, Elaine Danforth

  • WWII flying ace encounters new generation of aircraft

    Seventy five years ago, a 20-year-old Tom "Ginger" Neil flew a Hawker Hurricane for the Royal Air Force, shielding his homeland against thousands of German bombers in the Battle of Britain -- the first ever battle decisively fought in the air. This month marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the

  • WWII pilot reunited with P-47

    Sitting in a wheelchair with images of airplanes on his shirt and a U.S. Army Air Corp hat on his head, 92-year-old retired Air National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Hertel was reunited with the P-47 Thunderbolt during the Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course here Feb. 28.

  • WWII vet awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

    Retired Col. Vincent Fonke, who ended his 30-year career here, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross July 20 for actions he took during World War II while a bomber pilot assigned to the Army Air Corps 91st Bomb Group, 324th Squadron.The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for heroism or

  • WWII vet gives final salute to friend, lifesaver

    June 6, 1944, was a day forever marked in history books as D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, France. There are many tales of heroism from that particular day, but one account has surfaced regarding the day after the initial invasion, about a Soldier's search for the man who saved his life.

  • WWII veteran retires after 70 years of military, civil service

    This September, Anthony “Tony” Duno will celebrate his retirement from the Air Force after 70 years of service, making him the longest serving civilian in Air Force history. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James recognized Duno’s accomplishments during a ceremony at the Pentagon in

  • WWII veteran reunites with former aircraft

    World War II veteran, retired Lt. Col. Alston "Al" Daniels, reunited with the aircraft he piloted for nearly 2,000 hours on April 7. Daniels gleefully walked up the steps to a Douglas C-47D Skytrain cockpit for the first time since 1962.

  • WWII veterans attend museum D-Day exhibit opening

    More than 40 World War II veterans gathered Oct. 17 here to help open an exhibit recounting their wartime experiences on June 6, 1944. The veterans, mostly paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment that trained at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga., jumped from C-47 troop carriers into

  • WWII vets fly on 'Spirit of Go For Broke'

    After waiting for more than a year and a half from the christening of the seventh C-17 Globemaster III added to Hickam Air Force Base's fleet of eight, the men for whom it was named finally got their ride March 13 here. A group of 40 surviving veterans from the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team and

  • WWII vets tour memorial, remember fallen brothers-in-arms

    Clouds lingered overhead, as young and old walked around the water fountain at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Couples took photos of one another while mothers and fathers tried to keep track of children attempting to run free. A leather-skinned gentleman, standing upright

  • Wyatt: Diverse, experienced Air Guard must come from below

    The Air National Guard's ability to successfully conduct missions in the future depends on the development of future leaders, its top officer said Sept. 14. "It is our responsibility as an organization to develop the content of their character," said Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air

  • Wyatt: Air Guard is affordable, operational, accessible

    The Air National Guard is the affordable, operational, fully accessible force the Air Force needs during uncertain economic times, the director of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt said here."The Air Guard provides to the United States Air Force 34 percent of the combat capability on seven

  • Wynne sees pride in Airmen during Southwest Asia visit

    The secretary of the Air Force said he is proud and inspired by the Airmen he visited during his trip to Southwest Asia. "I met fabulous Airmen at each base," Secretary Michael W. Wynne said. "They were very dedicated and persistent in their desire to further the Air Force mission." Secretary Wynne

  • Wynne sworn in as 21st secretary

    Michael W. Wynne was sworn in today in front of 4,200 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets, during their noontime meal, as the 21st secretary of the Air Force. In this role, he is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including organizing, training, equipping and providing for the

  • 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

  • Wynne: Air Force needs more joint role

    Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said as the Air Force evolves to a new global war on terrorism era he wants it to participate in more joint operations. The Air Force is operating “as a joint service, right now -- today," the secretary said. But he said the service needs to foster a more joint

  • Wynne: Instill Airmen with opportunity for change

    The secretary of the Air Force said the service will embark on an effort to improve itself by using private sector developed process optimization tools to become more efficient. Two optimization tools are Lean and Six Sigma. Corporations like Toyota and General Electric have used them to catapult

  • Wynne: more integrated operations in Air Force’s future

    The secretary of the Air Force said the service is headed toward more integrated operations. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne stopped at this airlift base Dec. 23 after trips to bases in Southwest Asia and Germany. He talked about the importance of force integration, new weapons platforms

  • Wynne: We are logisticians of information

    As does its enemies, the Air Force considers cyberspace a warfighting domain. The Air Force has always been in the business of flying and fighting in the air, and in past decades, has included space in that mission. This year the Air Force expanded its mission to include cyberspace -- the domain of

  • Wynonna Judd joins Reserve Band for TV broadcast

    Members of the Band of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Strings teamed up with Wynonna and Naomi Judd and the Palmetto State Quartet for this year's Holiday Notes from Home concert recorded Dec. 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Viewers around the world will have a chance to see

  • Wyoming Air Guard dropping hay for Colorado cattle

    The Wyoming Air National Guard arrived in Pueblo, Colo., on Jan. 3 to begin flying missions to drop hay to stranded Colorado cattle.One C-130 Hercules and 10 Airmen are assisting the Colorado National Guard with feeding cattle in the southeastern corner of the state, near Lamar."Although the

  • X-37B breaks record, lands after 780 days in orbit

    The spaceplane conducted on-orbit experiments for 780 days during its mission, recently breaking its own record by being in orbit for more than two years. As of today, the total number of days spent on-orbit for the entire test vehicle program is 2,865 days.

  • X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle lands at Vandenberg AFB

    The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed here Dec. 3 at 1:16 a.m.The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1, which launched April 22 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in

  • X-45A successfully releases inert weapon

    The Joint-Unmanned Combat Air System X-45A successfully carried out an inert-weapons release here March 20, marking the first weapons release from the internal bay of the high-speed, stealthy unmanned aircraft."All testing leading up to (the) weapon jettison went extremely well," said Maj. Mike

  • X-51 Waverider makes historic hypersonic flight

    An X-51A Waverider flight-test vehicle successfully made the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight May 26 off the southern California Pacific coast.The more than 200 second burn by the X-51's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne-built air breathing scramjet engine accelerated the

  • X-51A flight ends prematurely

    The X-51A Waverider successfully launched from a B-52 Stratofortress over Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, Calif., Aug. 14, 2012, at approximately 11:36 a.m. PDT.The X-51 safely separated from the B-52 and the rocket booster fired as planned. However, after 16 seconds, a fault was

  • X-51A Waverider achieves breakthrough in final flight

    The final flight of the X-51A Waverider test program has accomplished a breakthrough in the development of flight reaching Mach 5.1 over the Pacific Ocean May 1. "It was a full mission success," said Charlie Brink, the X-51A program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems

  • X-51A Waverider flight planned for May 25

    Weather permitting, Air Force officials said the X-51A Waverider will make its first hypersonic flight test attempt May 25 after it is released from a B-52 Stratofortress off the southern coast of California.The unmanned X-51A is expected to fly autonomously for five minutes, powered by a supersonic

  • X-51A WaveRider gets first ride aboard B-52

    The X-51A Waverider was carried aloft for the first time Dec. 9 by an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortressover Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.The test was a key milestone in preparation for the X-51 to light its supersonic combustion ramjet engine and propel the WaverRider at hypersonic

  • XC-99 begins piece-by-piece trip to Air Force Museum

    Several parts of a historic XC-99 aircraft located at the Kelly Annex to Lackland were hauled to the Air Force Museum near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, recently. A C-5 Galaxy from the 433rd Airlift Wing here hauled the initial load of the three-phase dismantling project.Disassembling began

  • XPX team innovates solar power comm system

    With the help of 3-D printing and community partnerships, the Plans and Programs innovation team at McConnell Air Force Base created a portable, solar-powered communications system.

  • XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator completes inaugural flight

    The XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator, a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle completed its inaugural flight March 5, 2019, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The Air Force Research Laboratory partnered with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems to develop the XQ-58A.

  • Yeager brings 'Right Stuff' to symposium

    The first person ever to travel faster than the speed of sound didn't know anything about airplanes when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941. But retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager did have a knack for fixing machines and a willingness to do whatever his duty required of him and to take

  • 'Year in Photos' capture 2009 events

    Throughout the past year, Airmen, deployed and at home, successfully carried out the Air Force mission to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. Whether it was maintaining and launching aircraft, tending to a wounded warrior or building airfields anywhere in the world, total force Airmen

  • 'Year In Photos' highlights 2008

    Throughout the past year, Airmen, deployed and at home, successfully carried out the Air Force mission to Fly, Fight and Win in air, space and cyberspace.  Whether it was maintaining and launching an unmanned aircraft, tending to a wounded warrior, helping to reinforce a levee during a major flood,

  • Year of Defender revitalizes security forces squadrons

    Security forces is the largest enlisted career field in the Air Force with approximately 38,000 defenders spanning 120 bases. In order to better care for these Airmen and ensure they have everything they need to complete their mission, 2019 was declared – Year of the Defender – by top Air Force

  • Year of the Air Force Family promotes sense of community

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer and his wife welcomed the Air Force's newest Airmen into the service during a visit here July 8 and 9.The Basic Military Training graduation at the "Gateway to the Air Force" was the perfect backdrop for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife

  • Year of the Air Force Family short story competition coming soon

    Air Force Services Agency officials are accepting short story competition entries Dec. 20 through Feb. 14, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.This is an opportunity for Airmen to express what living the Air Force life means to them, their family and their friends. Entries must be be 300

  • Year of the Air Force Family T-shirt design competition under way

    Air Force Services Agency officials are promoting a T-shirt design competition on the recently launched myairforcelife.com, now through Dec. 20, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family."The site will feature programs and competitions that will roll out through the year," said Ms. Debbie Karnes,

  • 'Year of the Air Force Family' Web site launched

    Air Force officials have launched a new Web site to showcase the Year of the Air Force Family effort. Airmen and their families can log on to http://www.af.mil/yoaff/index.asp to learn about AF-wide initiatives, monthly themes and programs, as well as contact local installation Airman Family and

  • Year of the Air Force Family wraps up

    During the "Year of the Air Force Family," senior leaders examined existing support services and sought out ways to evolve and expand them to meet the changing needs and expectations of Airmen, their families and the larger Air Force family as well. As the Year of the Air Force Family initiative

  • Year-end recruiting goals within reach, official says

    With less than three weeks left in the fiscal year, all four military services met their active-duty recruiting goals for August and hope to maintain that momentum to reach their year-end goals, Defense Department officials said Sept. 10. The Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps all met or

  • Year-end review: 386th AEW remembers banner year

    As the world celebrated the passing of another year, and looked to the future with optimistic hope, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, and its leadership, reflected on its accomplishments.

  • Yellow Ribbon event provides rest, eases redeployment

    Rest and relaxation mixed with reintegration seminars and veteran resources, coupled with plenty of chocolate was the theme for the 60-day Yellow Ribbon Event April 16 to 18 at Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.Yellow Ribbon coordinators from the 514th Air Mobility Wing planned this event for more than

  • Yellow Ribbon program focuses on reservists, families

    Air Force reservists in the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker AFB, who return from long deployments, are finding the welcome mat waiting for them. A congressional directive in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act mandated that Reserve components provide reservists and their families with additional

  • Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program reaches milestone

    The advisory board of a new program mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act held its inaugural meeting here March 30. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program fulfills the requirement of establishing a national combat veteran reintegration program. The program's goal is to prepare

  • Yellowcard rocks servicemembers in Southwest Asia

    More than 250 servicemembers assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing were infected with a special blend of rock and pop Jan. 12 when the band Yellowcard performed live for an hour at the base theater. Yellowcard, a Los Angeles-based band, entertained American servicemembers during their final

  • Yesterday’s Air Force

    The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center has been coordinating inland search and rescue missions in the United States since its creation. Today, the AFRCC works with local and federal search and rescue assets and is credited with saving more than 17,000 lives.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: 9/11 response

    It wasn't long after the terror attacks of 9/11 that the Air Force responded in a big way. On Oct. 7, 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom began. In the initial months, Air Force bombers flew night and day, conducting strikes on Taliban and al-Qaida positions across Afghanistan. U.S. air superiority

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: AF museum opens new building

    The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, is showing off its brand new hangar full of historical aircraft and tons of Air Force history. It features four sections: presidential, research and development, space, and global reach.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Apollo 15

    Manned by an all-Air Force crew, the Apollo 15 mission was considered a great success. It was the fourth time man had landed on the moon.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Archie Williams

    As an Olympic gold medalist and command pilot, Lt. Col. Archie Williams proved time and again his skill, discipline and determination were among the best.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: BMT

    Tomorrow's Airmen all get their start at Lackland Air Force Base where citizens have been transforming into Airmen since 1942. It makes no difference whether you were a pickle or faced the B.E.A.S.T., Basic Military Training is the one thing that all enlisted Airmen have in common.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Cheyenne Mountain

    Since April 20, 1966, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station in Colorado has been protecting the skies over North America. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is near Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and falls under Air Force Space Command.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Flak-Bait

    During World War II, Martine B-26 Marauders dropped thousands of bombs and one of those aircraft survived more missions and dropped more bombs than any other — the Flak-Bait.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: HH-3E

    Getting stranded behind enemy lines is a concern during every combat mission and one aircraft set the standard for combat search and rescue during the Vietnam War -- the Sikorsky HH-3E.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Hurricane Hunters

    What started as a dare more than 70 years ago turned into the way we predict hurricanes today. Find out how the Air Force got started in a critical mission that saves lives by flying through hurricanes.