British 
defense minister Phillip Hammond accepted delivery of his country’s first F-35 strike fighter in a July 19 ceremony at manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s aircraft facility in Fort Worth, Tex. Designated BK-1, Britain’s F-35B short-takeoff and vertical-landing aircraft is the first F-35 supplied to an international customer. BK-1 flew for the first time in April, and is slated for test and training duties at Eglin AFB, Fla. “The United Kingdom was the first partner nation to join the F-35 program and has been a tremendous partner throughout the development, testing, and the initial production,” said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in a joint briefing with Hammond in the Pentagon on July 18. The British government recently ditched plans to buy the naval F-35C in favor of the F-35B. “Buying the STOVL version of the F-35 will allow us quickly to generate strike capability from our next generation aircraft carriers,” reasoned Hammond at a Center for a New American Security event on July 18. He was referring to Britain’s two planned Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. Britain plans to buy 48 F-35Bs, reports Reuters. (Includes AFPS report by Cheryl Pellerin) (Panetta-Hammond transcript)
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 9mm pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest killing him on July 20, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY testified during separate courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31.
