Indiana ANG Pilots Get Air Medals: Three Indiana Air National Guard pilots from Fort Wayne’s 122nd Fighter Wing have received Air Medals for single acts of heroism during their tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom last year, according to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Lt. Col. Michael D. Tohler, Capt. Brian K. Frazier, and Capt. Timothy D. Rusch, flying F-16s, provided close air support to US Army soldiers, including destroying three buildings in Samarra, Iraq, where insurgents were firing on Army units.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.