A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, flew top cover for Romanian air force helicopters in rescue scenarios during exercise Dacian Thunder, at Campia Turzii AB, Romania. In one of the combat search and rescue scenarios practiced on July 19, the A-10s located a US airman and guided a Puma helicopter carrying Romanian special forces to retrieve this mock survivor. “If a coalition contingency operation happens, we already have unified tactics, techniques, and procedures established. We won’t have to establish these in a real-world situation because we’re already familiar with one another,” said Capt. Maureen Hartney, 81st FS executive officer, in a July 23 release. British and Romanian airmen as well as US marines are participating in the month-long exercise, alongside pilots; support personnel; and survival, evasion, resistance, and escape specialists from Spangdahlem, according to the release. (Campia Turzii report by SrA. Natasha Stannard)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
