The National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force’s entry into the Vietnam War during its veterans tribute on the evening of Nov. 10 as part of the 2011 Veterans Day weekend. “Open to all veterans from all services, the evening will feature a special veteran’s recognition, a keynote speaker, and a patriotic performance by the US Air Force Band of Flight,” museum spokeswoman Sarah Swan told the Daily Report. It will conclude with “a special tour of the Southeast Asia War Gallery,” she said. The museum’s tribute evening is the kick-off event for Operation Welcome Home’s activities in the Dayton area throughout the Veterans Day weekend to honor Vietnam War veterans. (OWH website) (See also SEA War Gallery webpage for information on the museum’s additional activities related to the 50th anniversary commemoration.)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.