In Afghan
istan on Feb. 24, F-15E Strike Eagles provided close air support to coalition forces near Qurya. Taking direction from a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, the F-15Es dropped a GBU-38 joint direct attack munition and GBU-39 small diameter bomb on the single-story buildings used by enemy forces as small arms fire positions. In Iraq on the same day, pilots of F-16 Vipers assigned to monitor two mosques and a roadway near Ar Ramadi for anti-Iraqi activity, saw that the ground had been disturbed after a stopped vehicle with two men in it moved off. They relayed the information to a JTAC for checkout by ground forces. Meanwhile, other F-16s provided over-watch for various actions, including a medical evacuation and ground force actions, providing real-time reports of suspicious individuals in various locations.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.