Another Air Force explosive ordnance specialist has been killed in Iraq. The Pentagon has released the name of SrA. William N. Newman, 23, of Kingston Springs, Tenn., who died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device during operations June 7 south of Balad, Iraq. Newman had deployed to Iraq from Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Senior Air Force leaders noted earlier this year during Congressional testimony that the Air Force and Navy are providing the bulk of EOD specialists for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.