Retired Col. Eugene Martin “Gene” Faber, 85, a decorated fighter pilot of World War II and the Korean War, died Nov.1. The Kingsville, Md., resident passed away in his sleep, the Baltimore Sun reported Nov. 6. Faber was born in El Modena, Calif. After graduating high school, he joined the Army Air Forces, eventually becoming a fighter pilot, flying missions over Germany in the P-47 Thunderbolt with the 404th Fighter Group based in Belgium. During the Korean War, he flew the F-86 Sabre with the 4th Fighter Wing. After the Korean War, he tested fighter aircraft at Eglin AFB, Fla., for several years. He also flew the F-4 Phantom in combat for one year during the Vietnam War. During his 33-year career, he flew 300 combat missions, according to the Sun.
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.