Retired Col. John J. Pitchford, who remained a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for seven years, died Dec. 2 at age 82. Pitchford flew the F-100F Super Sabre Wild Weasel during the Vietnam War and was shot down on Dec. 20, 1965. The Natchez, Miss., native died following a battle against a brain tumor, reports the Associated Press (via Boston Herald). (Also read The Natchez Democrat report)
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.

