Two C-130s and about 60 airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 910th Airlift Wing have returned home to Youngstown ARS, Ohio, after five weeks of supporting efforts in the Gulf of Mexico to clean up the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. From the time of their deployment to Stennis Airport, Miss., on May 1 until their return home on June 4, Youngstown aircrews flew 92 sorties with their two specially equipped C-130s, spraying 30,000 acres of Gulf waters with nearly 149,000 gallons of aerial spray dispersant to break up the oil. “We’re very proud to have supported this cleanup effort,” said Col. Fritz Linsenmeyer, 910th AW commander. Civilian airplanes are now performing the oil-dispersant mission in the Gulf. (Youngstown release)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.