During a
special ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 14, airmen gathered with family and friends to bury the remains of the six airmen who were killed in the July 21 crash of a B-52 bomber off the coast of Guam. Five of the six were B-52 crew members deployed to Andersen Air Force Base from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La. The sixth was a flight surgeon at Andersen. (Their names and photos are included in All Perished in Bomber Crash). Among those attending the Arlington ceremony were Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. The Air Force has not yet released the accident investigation board results. (Air Combat Command Nov. 19 release)
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.