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U.S. Air Force News

  • Shaw hosts Operation Iron Thunder

    More than 100 aircraft from the U.S. military and NATO forces participated here this week in Operation Iron Thunder. Hosted by the 77th Fighter Squadron, the exercise offered a chance for players to be exposed to missions nearly identical to those faced in combat. "Operation Iron Thunder is a large

  • Airmen have front-row seat for Discovery landing

    While the 45th Space Wing had an active role in supporting the Space Shuttle Discovery's 5.3 million-mile mission, a select group of its Airmen had the opportunity to watch the shuttle's landing firsthand July 17. "Being asked to witness the landing was exciting," said Senior Airman Melissa Lucas,

  • Swedish Gripen fighters arrive at Eielson

    The Swedish Air Force endured a long journey to participate in the Pacific Air Forces exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder for the first time. In a journey that would span more than five days, seven Gripen fighters left Sweden on July 13 for the multinational exercise. The first leg of their trip took

  • Cooperative Cope Thunder a massive multilateral air exercise

    More than 800 U.S. forces and allies arrived here this week for Cooperative Cope Thunder 06-03, the Air Force's largest multilateral air combat exercise in the Pacific. Filling the role of lead wing is the 35th Fighter Wing from Misawa Air Base, Japan, with Col. Nelson Cabot commanding the 35th Air

  • Airmen continue Lebanon transport support

    A general medical team from U.S. Air Forces Europe departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, today to support Lebanon transportation operations. The team, comprised of more than a dozen medical professionals, was sent to fulfill a request by the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus. These Airmen, their

  • Flight builds training replicas, saves money

    Airmen at the 982nd Maintenance Squadron Trainer Development Flight here are creating replicas that not only meet the hands-on training needs of technical school students but also saves the Air Force money.Members of the flight are creating functional replicas that range in size as big as an

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 20.In Afghanistan July 19, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Qalat. The B-1 expended guided-bomb-unit 31s and

  • C-17s aiding with efforts in Lebanon

    A deployed C-17 Globemaster III unit here is providing support to the American citizens who have left Lebanon. Today, C-17s from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron were tasked to transport supplies to Akrotiri, Cyprus, in preparation for the flow of people.Supplies include tents, Meals Ready

  • Airmen helping transport people from Lebanon

    Three Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopters are part of the forces helping transport American citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus.The aircraft, from the 352nd Special Operations Group at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, are operating out of Akrotiri, Cyprus. They have been doing this for several

  • CENTAF releases air power summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 19. In Afghanistan July 18, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms fire near Musah Qal'eh. An A-10 expended guided bomb unit-12s on enemy

  • Combat Airmen keep convoy routes open

    Fifty-eight Air Force engineers filling a shortage of Soldiers in Iraq have completed more than a dozen construction projects, often under fire, throughout a 10,000-square-mile zone for the Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team.After six months, the Airmen of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer

  • Hickam AFB welcomes its final C-17

    Hickam welcomed "The Spirit of Kamehameha-Imua" today -- the last of its eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs. The arrival marked the successful transformation of the 15th Airlift Wing from a support unit to an operational strategic airlift wing. Earlier this year the 15th AW had no strategic cargo aircraft

  • Air Force ready to help with Lebanon evacuations

    Airmen are ready on the East Coast to fly in at a moment's notice to help with the movement of Americans fleeing the chaos in Lebanon. A group of Airmen from one of three contingency response groups at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., is ready to deploy where needed -- if needed, a base spokesman said.

  • Milwaukee Reserve unit begins move to North Carolina

    The timeline for the permanent transfer of the 440th Airlift Wing to Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and the closure of General Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station has been released. The 440th AW will be a North Carolina Air Force Reserve unit by May 2007 and the Air Reserve Station will

  • U.S., Parwan governments build ‘bridge to future'

    In the culmination of more than a year's efforts, the Parwan deputy governor cut the ribbon on a bridge July 11 in the northern part of this province connecting Afghans to their country. The new bridge spans a river in the mountains and was built with the future in mind as it accommodates both foot

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 18.In Afghanistan July 17, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-1B Lancer, a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition

  • 93rd Bomb Squadron is Litening pod combat-capable

    The 917th Reserve Wing's 93rd Bomb Squadron here is the first B-52 Stratofortress squadron to complete the training requirements for combat use of the Litening AT targeting pod. "This new mission capability is a first for the B-52 and gives the combatant commander another weapon in his arsenal in

  • AFA looking for former Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    The Air Force Association is looking for all former recipients of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award program. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the award, which has been presented to more than 700 Airmen.The AFA will honor all former award winners at the Air Force anniversary dinner

  • Airmen, Soldiers thwart terrorists emplacing IED

    The combined efforts of Air Force Airmen and Multi-national Division-Baghdad Soldiers foiled the efforts of terrorists today attempting to put into place an improvised-explosive device south of Baghdad.Airmen from the 11th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron's Joint Terminal Attack

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 17.In Afghanistan July 16, an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted precision strikes on Taliban extremist locations near Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended guided bomb unit-38s on extremists' buildings, destroying the

  • Elmendorf unit saves thousands

    Airmen at the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron Nondestructive Inspection Laboratory here have found a way to save the Air Force more than $200,000 annually.The lab is responsible for inspecting all aircraft assigned to the 3rd Wing for internal problems that are hard for the naked eye to see."We

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 16.In Afghanistan July 15, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and Predator unmanned aerial vehicle conducted a precision strike against a Taliban extremist's position near Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended guided bomb

  • Educators important in military children's lives

    It is important that teachers and other school officials understand factors affecting children of military families, a senior Army general said here July 13. A military lifestyle often is characterized by frequent moves and parents who are deployed for long periods of time, Army Gen. David D.

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 14.In Afghanistan July 13, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Musah

  • Oregon-based KC-135 unit begins drawdown

    The first KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 939th Air Refueling Wing departs Portland International Airport today, marking the beginning of a change in mission for the Air Force Reserve unit.Under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, all eight of the refueling aircraft and 900

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 13. In Afghanistan July 12, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support for coalition forces under small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban

  • C-130 Hercules crew delivers critical supplies

    A C-130 Hercules crew assigned to the 738th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron provided critical support to an Army operating location in Afghanistan on July 6 by airdropping essential supplies before a potential enemy attack. Aircraft commander Capt. Travis Sjostedt and his crew just completed their

  • Lakenheath tests small-diameter bombs

    Four F-15E Strike Eagles loaded with the electronically simulated version of the Air Force's newest small-diameter bombs flew their first training mission July 10.The 494th Fighter Squadron aircrews tested the capability of the GBU-39 -- guided bomb unit -- and trained with aircraft modifications

  • Airmen handle missions big and small in Afghanistan

    Tech. Sgt. William Long likes a challenge, but a couple weeks ago, one challenge seemed insurmountable. Air Force officials notified an Airman deployed to a remote forward operating base that his wife was gravely ill. The Air Force placed him on emergency leave, and then tried to figure a way to get

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 12.In Afghanistan July 11, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-1B Lancer and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 5. In Afghanistan July 4, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and French Air Force M-2000s provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small arms fire from Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Deh Rawood.

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 11. In Afghanistan July 10, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops under fire from enemy forces near Musah Qal‘eh. The A-10 expended guided bomb unit-12s destroying an enemy

  • Air Force officials consolidate network ops

    Air Force officials have formally consolidated the service's network operations and created the Air Force Network Operations, or AFNETOPS, command structure at 8th Air Force here. The AFNETOPS, pronounced "AF Net Ops," Command stood up in a ceremony July 5.The move is part of a larger Air Force

  • Security forces officer shows Iraqis how to defend freedom

    For more than 12 years Maj. Jeffery Prindle has honed his skills as a professional police officer, working both as a military security forces officer and a deputy for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. In that time, the 315th Airlift Wing reservist developed the tools necessary to assess

  • 13th EBS prepares for busy deployment

    Aircrew and support members from the 13th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed here last week to provide a continuous bomber presence in the region and help maintain stability and provide security for the Asia-Pacific region.The squadron replaces the 393rd EBS, which returned home July 1. The B-2

  • Active duty associate squadron a first for Air Guard

    In a ceremony at Cheyenne Municipal Airport today, the 30th Airlift Squadron became the first active-duty associate squadron, marking a groundbreaking partnership between Air Mobility Command and the Wyoming Air National Guard. Under the active-duty associate concept, the 30th AS will be the first

  • New wing brings Air Force dominance to cyberspace

    The Air Force consolidated the responsibilities of its network operations security centers under one wing here today, giving it the advantage over America's enemies and achieving tactical dominance on the newest battlefront -- cyberspace.That took place when the 67th Information Operations Wing was

  • Airmen go operational with new small-diameter munition

    Airmen from the 48th Munitions Squadron here have been trained on the handling procedures for the first small-diameter munition to enter the Air Force inventory. The Airmen are the first to handle the weapon in an operational environment. "This is the first time an Air Force fighter has carried the

  • Iceland radar mission comes to close

    Radar stations operated by Airmen from the 932nd Air Control Squadron at the four corners of Iceland are no longer active following a ceremony bringing the unit's mission to a close. After more than 54 years as Iceland's first line of defense, Air Force and host nation officials determined to

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 6.In Iraq July 5, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Salman Pak. Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy, Australian and Royal Air Force

  • Air Force provides Army's weather support

    Many people do not realize the U.S. Army receives its weather support from the Air Force as part of an inter-service agreement when the two became separate services.Airmen from the 7th Weather Squadron, with headquarters at Heidelberg, Germany, have been providing that support since 1942.Supporting

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for July 1 to 2.July 2In Afghanistan July 1, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and B-1 Lancers provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Gereshk. A B-1B expended a guided

  • Aversion to needles doesn't stop donor

    A staff sergeant who cannot volunteer at the Air Force Theater Hospital does so in another way. He donates blood platelets. Staff Sgt. Bret Depratu, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, has donated 10 units of blood platelets since his arrival in May, despite his aversion to needles. "I

  • Joint forces team up for first sergeant training

    Senior NCOs from the U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force received additional-duty first sergeant training to learn important skills required to be a first sergeant. Two instructors traveled from the Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., to teach the one-week

  • Airman dies in non-combat related incident

    An Airman assigned to the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Camp Bucca, Iraq, died today in a non-combat related incident.The name and home unit of the deceased Airman is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.The incident is under investigation.  Additional information will

  • Despite stormy start, 'Katrina baby' thrives

    No, her name is not Katrina. Sage Madison Post's dramatic birth at Keesler Medical Center during a cesarean section by flashlight as Hurricane Katrina stormed ashore was an inspirational story in the tumultuous days after the storm. However, without the family's consent, federal regulations to

  • Group mission inactivates at Keflavik, Iceland

    The 85th Group, a tenant unit at Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, marked 55 years of heritage and cooperation during an inactivation ceremony there June 28. "From fighters to helicopters, AWACS to tankers, NAS Keflavik has seen almost every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory transitioned

  • Airmen test new Air Force flight suits, T-shirts

    A six-month wear test for the next generation flight suit and proposed T-shirt undergarment is being conducted by specialists in the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron aircrew life support division here.The T-shirt, which is being tested in two versions made from wool or meta-aramid fibers (the same

  • Donated computers help Philippine youth get connected

    Airmen from the 35th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit, deployed to Singapore in support of Operation Commando Sling, took time out of their flying schedule to launch Philippine schools onto the information superhighway. Airmen conducted a donation drive and received computers and

  • Civil engineers rid Kunsan of austere living conditions

    Civil engineers here completed a construction project to update living accommodations typically used by servicemembers in support of air expeditionary force assignments.Thirty Southeast Asia huts, commonly referred to as SEA huts because of their popularity during the Vietnam War, were finished in

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for June 30.In Afghanistan June 29, Air Force B-1B Lancers provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small-arms and mortar fire from Taliban extremists near Tarin Kowt. The aircraft expended guided bomb unit-31s and

  • Air Force proposes CSAR-X locations

    Plans for initiating environmental analyses for proposed locations of the combat search and rescue, or CSAR-X, aircraft, were announced by Air Force officials June 29.The locations are at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Kulis Air National Guard Base or Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Gabreski Airport,

  • AFOSR helping to solve 30-year-old dilemma

    A team of researchers supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research has made a breakthrough in electric oxygen iodine laser, or EOIL, research. The results were presented at the AFOSR Molecular Dynamics Program Review here in June. "We have been looking at a problem that has been bugging

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials announced the airpower summary for June 29.In Afghanistan June 28, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and B-1 Lancers and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for a coalition forces convoy taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near

  • Fighter aircraft arrive for Combat Archer

    Twenty-eight fighter aircraft from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Luke AFB, Ariz.; and Shaw AFB, S.C., are here participating in Combat Archer. Approximately 300 Airmen deployed with their aircraft and set up operations in the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, an Air Combat Command tenant unit

  • Japanese military key member of coalition

    For the first time since its formation in 1954, members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are actively deployed to a combat zone. They are helping with humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. "I feel the responsibility of this valuable work for the world and am proud to take part

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for June 28.In Iraq June 27, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons conducted a precision strike against an anti-Iraqi forces compound near Baghdad. The F-16s expended a guided bomb unit-38, destroying the compound. F-16s provided

  • Former astronaut takes command of Air Force Space Command

    Gen. Kevin P. Chilton assumed command of Air Force Space Command in a ceremony here June 26, presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Current and former national defense leaders, active and retired senior officers, community leaders and active-duty servicemembers gathered

  • 18th ASOG Airman praised for selfless service

    A tactical air controller was recognized by the secretary of the Air Force with the presentation of a Silver Star in a ceremony June 26 for heroic duties while deployed to Southwest Asia in support of the war on terrorism. Tech. Sgt. Travis Crosby, a terminal attack control-qualified TACP assigned

  • Omaha Trophy winners announced

    The winners of the 2005 Omaha Trophy awards were announced by U.S. Strategic Command officials today.The results are as follows: -- Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Trophy: 90th Space Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.-- Strategic Aircraft Operations Trophy: 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.--

  • Air Force, Army agree on plans for joint cargo aircraft

    With the signing of a memorandum of agreement June 20, the vice chiefs of staff of the Air Force and the Army have agreed on a way ahead for converging the service's independent acquisition programs for a joint cargo aircraft. Both the Air Force and the Army independently pursued options for a

  • Air Force turns to old standby for Army re-supply

    The U.S. military has turned to an old workhorse as the delivery method for supplies and humanitarian cargo needed to sustain Operation Enduring Freedom. The C-130 Hercules has been around, in one form or another, since the 1950s. It is the aircraft of choice for inter-theater airlift in

  • Air Force research facility one of best in DOD

    An Air Force research facility here received accolades as one of the best in the Department of Defense during an inspection. Dr. Salvatore Cirone, the health science policy program director for the office of the assistant secretary of defense, inspected the 59th Medical Wing's 59th Clinical Research

  • Airmen ensure blood flows to forward locations

    It is the job of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's Expeditionary Blood Transshipment System to ensure that lifesaving blood, plasma and cryoprecipitate (the part of the blood that aids in clotting) get from the states to the forward operating bases. "All blood comes through here and that is

  • Airmen prepare base for return to Iraqi control

    In order for coalition troops to leave Iraq, the Iraqis must first be prepared to take over operations from the coalition. Part of accomplishing that task involves coalition forces training and validating the new Iraqi military. Four Airmen assigned to a small forward operating base about 10 miles

  • Allied aircrews train for action

    More than 300 German and American aircrews are expanding their scope of modern coalition warfare during a two-week training exercise that concludes June 30. The exercise is the final stage of training for weapons instructors with the German Air Force Flying Training Center, or GAF-TC, stationed at

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for June 24 to 26.June 26In Afghanistan June 25, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Asadabad. The aircraft expended guided bomb

  • Air Force stands ready for 2006 hurricane season

    With hurricanes Katrina and Rita still fresh on their minds, Air Force officials stand ready to face anything Mother Nature may throw at them this hurricane season, senior leaders here said. “We provide first-in, last-out support for humanitarian crises and natural disasters,” said Air Force Chief

  • Officials name aircrew life support award winners

    Air Force officials here have announced the 2005 Outstanding Air Force Aircrew Life Support of the Year award winners. These awards recognize the accomplishments of aircrew life support people and programs. The 2005 winners are: -- Headquarters Staff Member of the Year: Master Sgt. Richard Colson,

  • Air Force announces new mission at Cannon AFB

    Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., will be the new home for an Air Force special operations wing, Air Force officials announced June 20.Air Force Special Operations Command will accept ownership of Cannon AFB and the Melrose Range effective Oct. 1, 2007. The decision came as a result of an eight-step

  • Airmen, Soldiers polish skills at Golden Medic

    Air Force reservists from around the country deployed here June 10 to 19 to participate in the Army Reserve's largest medical exercise, Golden Medic 2006. About 200 Airmen set up a base at the city's regional airport. At nearby Fort Gordon, nearly 2,000 Soldiers took part in the exercise. More than

  • Air Force announces aviation resource management awards

    Air Force officials have announced the 2005 Outstanding Air Force Aviation Resource Management of the Year award winners.The winners are: -- Airman of the Year: Senior Airman April Derrick, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. -- NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Clayton Raub, 48th

  • C-130 aircrew evacuates girl on Father's Day

    When Maj. Wayne Vaughn looked down at the injured 12-year-old girl clinging to life on a litter loaded in his C-130 Hercules, he thought, "How can they do this? How can they try and kill a little girl?" Taliban extremists had bombed a girls school in Herat in eastern Afghanistan on June 18, killing

  • Community at large benefits from space innovation

    In the midst of budget cuts and space program cost overruns, the Air Force has found a way to save taxpayers money and, at the same time, increase small satellite launch capability to its maximum potential. It’s called the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter, or ESPA, ring.

  • B-2s stay in shape with exercises

    The 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron has spent the past three weeks refining the skills necessary to maintain the B-2 Spirit, one of the world’s most advanced weapon systems. During exercises Valiant Shield, continuing through June 23, and Northern Edge, which ran from June 5 to 16, B-2 aircrew

  • Warfighting integration reduces inaccuracy, inefficiency

    Over the next decade, the Air Force will continue to use information technology to leverage the capability of its people and weapons systems. During a conference here June 13, Lt. Gen. Michael W. Peterson, Air Force chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer, told members of the

  • Squadron monitors sky over Afghanistan

    If it’s flying over Afghanistan, Airman 1st Class Kyle Neill will be the first one to notice it. That is, as long as he is on shift as a surveillance technician with the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron here. Airman Neill's job is to manage data as part of a two-person team in an operations

  • Mosquitoes in the desert?

    There are mosquitoes, along with spiders, snakes, wild dogs and a variety of other animals and plants, at Kirkuk and other deployed locations that can cause Airmen problems. But there are two units here fighting against these lesser-known enemies to the Air Force mission: the 506th Expeditionary

  • Northern Edge 2006 takes joint operations to next level

    Exercise Northern Edge 2006, Alaska's largest joint training exercise, concluded June 16.Nearly 5,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen worked together against a simulated enemy for two weeks, destroying targets on land and in the sea, gaining control of the Alaskan sky and performing

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the combined airpower summary for June 16 to 18.June 18In Afghanistan June 17, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Ghazni. The

  • Air Force names 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    Air Force officials have selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2006. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center here considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and

  • Andersen prepares for Valiant Shield

    Air Force bombers, fighters, tankers and support aircraft from the Pacific theater are arriving and making preparations for Valiant Shield 2006. The U.S. Pacific Command exercise, which runs June 19 to 23, will be conducted in the vicinity of Guam. Valiant Shield focuses on integrated joint training

  • Zarqawi air strike shows aerial flexibility, general says

    The attack that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi demonstrates the flexibility that air assets give commanders, officials here said. Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog, an air planner with Multinational Force Iraq, gave a timeline of the operation that resulted in the death June 7 of the most wanted terrorist in

  • Pararescuemen chance the extremes

    From an altitude of 3,500 feet, Air Force pararescue jumpers, or PJs, leap from a C-130 Hercules in an effort to rescue three victims from the frigid waters of the Kachemak Bay in Alaska. This was one of three training scenarios for PJs deployed to Alaska for Northern Edge 2006. “Alaska’s different

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for June 16.In Afghanistan June 15, French Mirage fighter aircraft conducted precision strikes on Taliban extremists near Qalat. The Mirages expended guided bomb unit-12 munitions on extremists hiding in a tree line. In a

  • RAF Lakenheath welcomes new mission, aircraft

    The first two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron arrived here from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, via a C-17 Globemaster III June 12 and 13. Five aircraft and many operators and maintainers are moving here as part of the reallocation of the Iceland-based unit. “We’re

  • JIB communicates Northern Edge 2006 mission

    Most people think of men and women in uniform wearing Kevlar vests and armed with rifles when they hear “military.” For the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines working here in the joint information bureau at Exercise Northern Edge 2006, pens, notebooks and cameras are just as critical as their

  • Tanker Task Force keeps Northern Edge flying

    If a driver could fill up the car with gas without stopping, imagine how efficient driving would be. The Tanker Task Force here provides efficient service to drivers in the air at Northern Edge, Alaska’s joint training exercise. Seventeen tankers and 12 total force units from around the country

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for June 15.In Afghanistan June 14, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1B Lancer conducted precision strikes on insurgent defensive fighting locations, compounds, cave entrances and troops near Khowst. The aircraft

  • Hickam honors World War II vets with new C-17

    The delivery of the seventh of eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs here June 14 brought 15th Airlift Wing and Pacific Air Forces Airmen together with World War II veterans. The aircraft, christened "The Spirit of 'Go For Broke,'” is a tribute to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The 442nd fought in Europe

  • Air Force announces integration, information award winners

    The winners of the Air Force’s annual Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer Awards for 2005 have been announced. “Each year, the quality of the nominations we receive shows we have troops at every level of command who continue to excel in conducting warfighter missions around the

  • Technology offers high-tech patient monitoring

    Wilford Hall Medical Center Critical Care Air Transport Team, or CCATT, members are testing technology designed to improve patient care in the air. The latest advancement in remote monitoring capability, the medical heads-up display, or MHUD, was brought here by technicians from the Air Warfare

  • Space institute begins advanced missile warning course

    The National Security Space Institute will conduct the first-of-its-kind missile warning advanced course here July 24. This 13-week course is designed to create experts in the missile warning and defense mission arena. The course will provide in-depth education on missile warning and defense with a

  • Joint Prowler team jams at Northern Edge 2006

    The sight of four crewmembers climbing out of a Navy EA-6B Prowler here on the flightline during Northern Edge 2006 is not unusual. However, when one of those four crewmembers is carrying the blue flight cap of an Air Force officer instead of Navy khaki, something might be amiss. But that is not the

  • AFA names Air Force civilians of year

    The winners of the 2006 Air Force Association Outstanding Air Force Civilian of the Year Awards have been announced. The awards recognized the following Air Force civilian employees in their respective categories:-- Civilian Wage Employee: Michael Hartsfield, Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. --

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for June 14.In Afghanistan June 13, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s conducted precision strikes on Taliban extremists in the open and by a cave entrance near Khowst. The A-10s expended

  • 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

  • FOD is Public Enemy No. 1

    Tiny objects make big trouble for jet engines -- something smaller than a fingernail can destroy an engine worth hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars. Foreign object damage, or FOD, typically occurs when small objects such as hardware fragments from aircraft are ingested into the

  • Peterson, Misawa have top large commissaries

    The commissary at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., has been selected by the Defense Commissary Agency as the top large commissary in the U.S. The commissary at Misawa Air Base, Japan, was selected as the top large store overseas. There were a total of 48 stores that received awards in this year's

  • Maintainers keep B-2s soaring during deployment

    Maintaining the world’s most advanced multi-role bomber isn’t an easy job. It requires Airmen work long hours to ensure every inch of airframe is ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Anything less would jeopardize the safety of the aircrew, or in the case of this unique aircraft, compromise the