T
he boss of Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Paul Hester, believes that the first squadron of F-22A Raptors at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, could be in place in time to send some off to Guam next year. PACAF accepted the first Elmendorf-bound F-22 in February. Hester told the Associated Press that a “small contingent” could deploy to Andersen AFB, Guam, if all goes well with the beddown and transition from the F-15 to the F-22. Air Combat Command sent Raptors to Kadena AFB, Japan, earlier this year on the F-22’s first overseas deployment.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
