http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/usaf/ en-us Sun, 5 Oct 2008 16:12:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098009/posts To say goodbye, 41 years too late Vietnam War officer, missing since 1967, comes home to rest Sunday, October 5, 2008 3:39 AM By Holly Zachariah THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH WEST LIBERTY, Ohio -- He called her Tootsie. Pat Zook doesn't know exactly why. She thinks maybe it was because her husband always liked that old Al Jolson song: Yesterday I heard a lover sigh, Goodbye, oh me, oh my. Toot, toot, Tootsie, goodbye. Oh, no, Tootsie, don't cry. She last touched his face -- those bedroom eyes, the full and pouty lips, that Elvis Presley hair -- as he left... The Columbus Dispatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098009/posts#comment Sun, 5 Oct 2008 16:12:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094083/posts MINOT, N.D.—An Air Force supervisor says a Minot Air Force Base officer admitted taking a missile launch control device as a souvenir because he thought it would be "a cool thing to have." AP, via the Evening Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094083/posts#comment Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:26:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2092783/posts New AF Dress Coat Left Flapping in the Wind It could just be that the Air Force is entering an era that, in part, will be defined by what will not be a hot-button issue: uniforms. "First things first," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz responded Sept. 17 when asked by Military.com whether uniforms -- new ones or modifications to current dress -- will be relegated to the back burner during his tenure. Schwartz, who had just listened as his major command chiefs offered up a list of things the Air Force needs today-right-now-thank-you-very much -- including new... Defense Tech Website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2092783/posts#comment Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:09:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090469/posts 6 Air Force, 2 Army Generals Punished For Shipment Of Nuclear Fuses To Taiwan Eight generals, ranging in rank from one to three stars, have been disciplined as a result of the mistaken shipment of fuses for nuclear warheads to Taiwan, The Associated Press has learned. Defense officials said Wednesday that the six Air Force and two Army generals were given disciplinary letters that vary in seriousness but often can end careers or hopes of promotion. The officers are mainly in logistical jobs and were involved to some degree in the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four electrical fuses for... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090469/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:09:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087477/posts     Stealthy ... Brit Jon with B2 bomber        Exclusive   RAF pilot is one hell of a guy     By JOHN KAY Published: Today     AN RAF Top Gun known as “Killers” has been recruited to fly the world’s deadliest aircraft for the elite US Grim Reapers squadron.   13th bomb squadron ... badge of the elite Grim Reapers  Squadron Leader Jon Killerby pilots the £1billion state-of-the-art Stealth Spirit B2 bomber. The former Tornado ace, 34, is based with the 13th Bomb Squadron in Missouri, US. His flying overalls sport the squadron’s badge... The Sun (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087477/posts#comment Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:26:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087467/posts Servicemembers, families say goodbye as about 300 deploy MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Even pets came to say goodbye. Families gathered in a parking lot near the north side of base Sunday morning to see their loved ones off to war. There were kisses for spouses, bear hugs for kids, pats on the head for family dogs and a few tears for all, before airmen shuffled with their Army green duffle bags to a bus that marked the first leg of a journey. Final destination: Iraq. First, the bus dropped them at a hangar. Airmen were to later board a... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2087467/posts#comment Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:01:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087438/posts Was the Stephenville UFO a National Security Threat? american chronicle Franklin D. Fields, Jr. Esq. Stephenville, Texas attracted worldwide attention earlier this year (Jan, 08) after residents sighted an unidentified flying object (UFO) that some say was a mile long. By news accounts, there were more than 30 residents to specifically report the sighting. It was front-page headlines in a large number of news forums. Many of the witnesses were interviewed on national television programs such as CNN´s Larry King Live. All of the witnesses were credible and none were shown to be perpetrating a hoax. They might have been... american chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087438/posts#comment Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:44:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086461/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), its largest supplier, sought on Friday to shoot down criticism of their $299 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the costliest planned U.S. arms buy ever. Published reports that Russian-built Sukhoi fighter jets thrashed the F-35 in simulated dogfights last month are "just flat false," Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, the Pentagon official in charge of the program, said in a teleconference hastily called by Lockheed to rebut negative publicity at a critical juncture for the program. > Citing U.S. Air Force analyses, he said the F-35 is at... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086461/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:59:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085453/posts KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 18, 2008 – Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan servicemembers celebrated the 61st anniversary of the U.S. Air Force during a ceremony at Camp Eggers here today. (Left to right) Air Force Lt. Col. Mathies Santos, a reserve airman deployed from Quonset Point, R.I., Air Force Maj. Gen. Jay H. Lindell, Combined Air Power Transition Force commander, and Air Force Airman 1st Class Jordan Ramsey, a security forces airman deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., cut the traditional birthday cake during a ceremony for the U.S. Air Force’s 61st anniversary at Camp Eggers, Afghanistan, Sept. 18,... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085453/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:27:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076842/posts HAWR RAJAB — Six months ago, the town of Hawr Rajab was a mere shell of its former self. Local shops were closed, their windows boarded up. The streets were abandoned. Homes were badly damaged. The town was once an al Qaida in Iraq (AQI) stronghold where violence and intimidation forced residents to flee their homes. But today Hawr Rajab is a different place. Air Force Capt. Michael Askegren, Patrol Base Stone site officer in charge, is deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. He had an eye-witness view of the city’s gradual transformation. “It’s a recovering city. You can see the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076842/posts#comment Sun, 7 Sep 2008 19:55:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2071670/posts In the next few weeks, my wonderful husband, Ron, will be re-deploying back to Iraq with the USAF for his FIFTH time flying the not-so-friendly skies over there. He is a pilot, and volunteered for this redeployment. (He just returned home about a month and a half ago from his last deployment and I'd rather hoped to have him home longer.) Prayers for his preparation, protection, and safe return would be greatly appreciated, as always. (Please consider adding him to any prayer lists or prayer pings, please.) Molly in California http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2071670/posts#comment Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:41:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071025/posts 8/15/2008 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- I learned a big lesson on service Aug. 4, 2008, when Eielson had the rare honor of hosting President Bush on a refueling stop as he traveled to Asia. It was an event Eielson will never forget -- a hangar full of Airmen and Soldiers getting to see the Commander in Chief up close, and perhaps even shaking his hand. An incredible amount of effort goes into presidential travel because of all of the logistics, security, protocol, etc ... so it was remarkable to see Air Force One land at Eielson on... Eielson AF Base http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071025/posts#comment Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:16:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071255/posts Travis Air Expo 2008 The Travis Air Expo is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. both days.The Travis Air Expo will be broadcast live on AM 890 within two miles of the base.Due to heightened security measures, some items are prohibited at this year's Expo. For a list of these items and other security concerns, click here.Some Things You Will See at Travis Air Expo 2008 USAF ThunderbirdsThe U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance... http://www.travisairshow.com/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071255/posts#comment Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:48:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070313/posts Dnevne Novine Press 24 Aug 08 Halyard English Translation from Serbian RAVNA GORA MEN RESCUED 660 AIRMEN The American Air Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Lt Col John Cappello, USAF, speaks about the Halyard Mission that was led by General Draza Mihailovich in WWII and presents the little known story about the achievements of the Pranjani villagers in Serbia. At the beginning of May 2008 at the American Corner in Kragujevac a very specific exhibition of photographs was opened. Its title was the “Air Bridge”. The citizens of Serbia had an opportunity for the first time to be... Dnevne Novine Press (Serbia) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070313/posts#comment Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:19:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070201/posts JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq, Aug. 28, 2008 – Coalition air forces in Iraq unleashed a new precision-guided weapon against enemy forces Aug. 12 when two F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots with the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here executed the first combat employment of a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition against a moving enemy vehicle in Diyala province. Air Force Staff Sgts. Michael Jackson (left) and Anthony Bagen align a 500-pound GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition before connecting it to an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Aug. 14, 2008. F-16 pilots with the 77th Expeditionary Fighter... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2070201/posts#comment Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:02:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067902/posts Tuskegee Airman dies in Virginia Growing up, Lt. Col. Howard Lee Baugh knew he wanted to fly airplanes. For years, he was told he couldn't because of his race. But when the Army began accepting applications from blacks who wanted to join, he jumped at the chance. The Petersburg native enlisted in 1942 and was part of the original Tuskegee Airmen, a fighter group consisting entirely of black men who trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The first time he was in a plane, he was the one flying. By the time he retired, Lt. Col. Baugh logged more... Times Dispatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067902/posts#comment Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:07:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065883/posts 8/21/2008 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFPN) -- An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target Aug. 16 in one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned aircraft system. The Reaper began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 18 and joined the MQ-1 Predator as another UAS patrolling the sky to protect coalition forces. The successful airstrike, which destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, demonstrates the persistent strike capability that the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing provides commanders on the ground, said Brig. Gen. Brian T. Bishop, the 332nd AEW commander. "We are... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065883/posts#comment Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:36:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2064058/posts A real ride back in time. One of my fellow passengers flew these in WW2. Click on the link for a few more pictures. The Virginian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2064058/posts#comment Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:33:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062064/posts TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 14, 2008 – A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport jet departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport here yesterday, delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Broegemueller, assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing's Contingency Response Group at Sembach Air Base, Germany, helps to push out the first of 16 pallets aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Tbilisi, Georgia, Aug. 13, 2008. The humanitarian assistance delivery consisted of $1 million... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062064/posts#comment Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:26:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062084/posts WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2008 – The humanitarian mission under way in Georgia is intended to alleviate suffering for now and will move into longer-range help in the future, officials said at a Pentagon news conference today. The Air Force has sent two supply-filled C-17 Globemaster III transports into Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi. More flights will follow, officials said, but none are scheduled just yet. Russian troops who invaded Georgia last week are beginning to pull back, Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said today. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates also spoke at... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062084/posts#comment Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:48:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061761/posts The Air Force on Monday suspended all efforts related to development of a program to become the dominant service in cyberspace, according to knowledgeable sources. Top Air Force officials put a halt to all activities related to the establishment of the Cyber Command, a provisional unit that is currently part of the 8th Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, sources told Nextgov. An internal Air Force e-mail obtained by Nextgov said, “Transfers of manpower and resources, including activation and reassignment of units, shall be halted.” Establishment of the Cyber Command will be delayed until new senior Air... nextgov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061761/posts#comment Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:29:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061342/posts President George W. Bush announced the dispatch of a U.S. military aircraft carrying medical supplies to the Georgian capital of Tblisi on Wednesday morning, warning Russia that he expected it to be allowed to deliver its aid by air and sea. The statement, with its echoes of the 1961 Berlin airlift, upped tensions between the two former Cold War adversaries. The day after Russia agreed to a French-brokered cease-fire, Russian troops followed by irregular fighters pushed deep into Georgia, aiming to seize the strategic city of Gori and cutting the main highway that crosses the country to the capital Tbilisi.... WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2061342/posts#comment Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:56:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2059894/posts Word that Boeing is strongly considering a “no bid” position for the next round of the U.S. Air Force refueling tanker competition is spreading only two days after the Pentagon released the revised KC-X draft request for proposals (RFP). Multiple sources familiar with Boeing’s internal discussions say company officials are strongly considering the option of not submitting a proposal as the company’s Integrated Defense Systems sector tries to respond to the draft RFP within the government’s speedy timeline. Comments are due this week. The move would leave the Defense Dept. without a competition for the KC-135 tanker replacement. A demand... Aviation Week http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2059894/posts#comment Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:56:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2059193/posts August 08, 2008, 7:00 a.m. Testing GatesTanker re-bid. By Merrill Cook A recent report by the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) devastatingly critiques one of the Pentagon’s critical procurement processes. The July 2008 report demonstrates that the government botched contracts for an urgently needed new generation of aerial refueling tankers not just once, but twice. With years of delay and billions in budget overruns in many of the Department of Defense’s top programs, many observers are asking just how deep the Pentagon’s procurement problems run. They want to know what the Pentagon’s new chief, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will... National Review Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2059193/posts#comment Sat, 9 Aug 2008 22:08:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058856/posts The Air Force is preparing for the Atlas V launch in December of the first U.S. robotic military spaceplane mission into orbit. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle flight will mark a fundamental technology milestone for the Air Force. It will carry on winged hypersonic space vehicle technology as the space shuttle is canceled. This work is designed to propel the Air Force mission more rapidly - to where the blue sky turns to black - using a reusable hypersonic craft serviced on the ground just like an airplane. In the future, this could lead to military spaceplane capability for the... Aviation Week http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058856/posts#comment Sat, 9 Aug 2008 00:19:05 GMT