The New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease ANG Base will receive about 135 active duty airmen over the summer, starting next month, reports Foster’s Daily Democrat. The active airmen will work with their Air Guard counterparts to operate and maintain the 157th FW’s KC-135 tankers in a continuation of the Air Force’s community basing program. The first such effort in Vermont was a big hit with lawmakers and, after resolving some manpower and funding issues, the Air Force announced plans in fall 2007 to extend the program to other locations. The program is so popular that some units not on the list have since tried to interest the Air Force in bringing active airmen to their location as another way to help preserve the reserve mission at that location.
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.
