Air Force officials on May 1 activated the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, the third unit of MC-12W intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft now operating in Southwest Asia. “The MC-12 is a critical capability, fielded at a critical time,” said Lt. Col. Darren Halford, the squadron’s commander. He added, “Your actions will drastically improve joint and combined counterinsurgency capabilities, assist Afghanistan with defeating the insurgency, and ultimately save American and coalition lives.” The 80-member squadron is part of Kandahar’s 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. Like the MC-12s flown by the 362nd ERS at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and the 4th ERS at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, its aircraft will provide ground troops with live streaming video and signals intelligence. The unit’s first MC-12 actually flew its first combat sortie from Kandahar already on April 1. (Kandahar report by TSgt. Renni Thornton)
Dick Cheney’s Legacy with the Air Force
Nov. 6, 2025
Dick Cheney, who died Nov. 3 at 84, is best remembered by most Americans as among the most powerful Vice Presidents in history, a consummate Washington insider who had previously served in the Nixon administration, was Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, a Congressman for a decade, and Secretary…
