ACC Grows, Changes Sole Active Rescue Wing

Air Combat Command plans to move the 23rd Fighter Group from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., (which transfers to the Army under BRAC 2005) to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, making the group part of the 347th Rescue Wing,...

Governors Balk at Losing Guard Control

House authorizers included a provision in their version of the 2007 defense bill that would enable the President to federalize National Guard forces during a “serious” catastrophe without consulting a state’s governor. A group of 51 governors, including Puerto Rico’s...

Unique C-130 Unit Gets Roll-On Communications Package

The first and only USAF C-130 squadron based in the Southwest Asia theater has one airlifter that is hauling not supplies but a communications suite to provide better communications capability for ground convoys. Personnel from all the services operate the...

AFSOC Gains Intel Unit

In addition to operating its own Predator unmanned aerial vehicle squadron—the 3rd Special Operations Squadron at Creech AFB, Nev.—Air Force Special Operations Command has just taken charge of a reactivated 11th Intelligence Squadron to process and disseminate Predator data tailored...

Two More VA Med Centers to Remain Separate

Veteran Affairs has opted not to create a single, centralized medical center to replace the Manhattan and Brooklyn VA medical centers. The announcement follows a “detailed, two-year examination” that recognized input from the New York Congressional delegation, veterans groups, and...

In Afghanistan, SF Move FAST

Air Force security forces deployed to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, have formed the Fly-Away Security Team to provide specially trained airmen to fly with and protect the aircrews and C-130 tactical cargo aircraft that fly into remote airfields in Afghanistan and...

Hobbins Leads Tour in Russia

Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, and an Air Force cohort are in central Russia, where they will receive facility tours and see various Russian aircraft, reports the Russian news service RIA Novosti. Hobbins plans to...

Hill, White Join Hall of Fame

The National Aviation Hall of Fame last month inducted famed Flying Tiger Brig. Gen. David “Tex” Hill and test pilot Maj. Gen. Robert M. White to its list of aviation legends. Hill flew with the Flying Tigers in China in...

AFRL Extends Laser Reach

Air Force Research Lab’s Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland AFB, N.M., in concert with Boeing, has demonstrated that a dual-mirror system can redirect a laser to a target, extending the laser’s range. Using a prototype called the Aerospace Relay Mirror...

Those Creative Guys at Ogden

Maintainers at Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah decided they needed a better way to work on C-130 airlifters, rather than suspending themselves from the ceiling via a harness and cable. Some guys still have to strap up, but most...

Try Pumping 3 Mil a Month

Fuels airmen at Balad AB, Iraq, pump about 12 million gallons of aviation fuel every four months. The airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron accomplish this stupendous task using a fleet of 13 aging fuel trucks, each carrying...

There’s a Long-Term Shortage of Dentists

The Air Force has found itself short of new dentists for nearly 10 years, bringing in about 120 a year instead of the 150 it needs. The service also finds it difficult to retain dentists once they’ve completed their basic...

AFOSI Targets Reservists for Special Agents

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is looking to turn some staff or technical sergeants currently serving in the Air Force Reserve or airmen who plan to leave active duty for the Reserve into special agents. There is school...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

Aug. 11-13, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 39 23 62 CAS/Armed Recon 131 81 212 Airlift 480 480 Air refueling 123 123 Total 170 104 603 877 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance