TSgt. Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32, of Citrus Heights, Calif., and SSgt. Joseph J. Hamski, 28, of Ottumwa, Iowa, died in operations in Afghanistan, announced Defense Department officials. The two airmen were killed on May 26 in the Shorabak district of Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Both airmen were EOD technicians. Solesbee was assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah. Hamski was a member of the 52nd CES at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. (See also KTXL report from Sacramento, Calif., and WHO report from Des Moines, Iowa.)
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. It also said test aircraft will be so simular to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if called for.