The Japanese Force at the Front: An airlift wing from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is working alongside other coalition members in Southwest Asia. The first group of about 200 Japanese airmen deployed to SWA in December 2003, and since then, say US Air Force officials, they have flown more than 325 sorties and hauled some 460 tons of cargo. They fly C-130 airlifters. (Read more here.)
An Air Force F-16 pilot designed a collapsible ladder that weighs just six pounds and folds into the unused cockpit map case.