Retired Col. John J. Pitchford, who remained a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for seven years, died Dec. 2 at age 82. Pitchford flew the F-100F Super Sabre Wild Weasel during the Vietnam War and was shot down on Dec. 20, 1965. The Natchez, Miss., native died following a battle against a brain tumor, reports the Associated Press (via Boston Herald). (Also read The Natchez Democrat report)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
