The Air Force’s F-15E fleet recently eclipsed 8,000 combat flight hours during a mission of the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The F-15E on this historic mission provided overhead security during helicopter re-supply of a remote area and also coordinated communications between the helicopters and coalition forces on the ground. The 336th EFS comprises elements of the 336th FS from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. The aircrew for the mission was pilot Capt. Jaina Donberg, a native of Arlington, Va., and weapon systems officer Capt. Nick Foster, a native of Martinsburg, W.Va. SrA. John Yates, a native of Pawtucket, R.I., was the crew chief. (Bagram report by Capt. David Faggard)
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he'd be “comfortable’ with the service taking over the air base defense mission from the Army, provided it was given the resources and manpower to do so. The Army has been slow to devote the resources and attention needed to matching the Air Force’s…