Retired Lt. Gen. Raymond B. Furlong died Sept. 28 at his home. He was 83. Furlong started his Air Force career as an aviation cadet in 1948, receiving his wings and commission a year later. He served as a fighter pilot, flying 74 combat missions in the F-80C during the Korean War with the 8th Fighter Bomber Group. Among his assignments, he served as a personnel staff officer at various levels, an exchange officer with the Navy, a C-130 pilot, and an operations staff officer, including at the Air Staff. He commanded Sheppard Technical Training Center in Texas before becoming commander of Air University at Maxwell AFB, Ala. He retired from the Air Force in July 1979. (Also read this Montgomery Advertiser report and Maxwell Dispatch report)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
