The Air Force for the first time welcomed nine Air Chiefs at the new Air Force Memorial and conducted a wreath laying ceremony, traditionally performed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in nearby Arlington National Cemetery. Participating in the Oct. 25 event were Air Chiefs from Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, and the Philippines. President Bush formally accepted the new Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., overlooking the Pentagon, during an Oct. 14 dedication ceremony.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.