The pilot of an F-15 flying an air-to-air training mission out of Okinawa bailed out of his fighter before it crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 10 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2005. About 20 minutes later, an Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk team from the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, picked up the pilot, who is with Kadena’s 44th Fighter Squadron. Air Force officials say the fighter was a 1978-vintage F-15, tail # 498.
Small satellites meant to improve the way the U.S. measures Earth’s magnetic field—an option to expand the military’s position, navigation, and timing enterprise—launched March 30 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.