Air Force Gen. Charles F. Wald, currently deputy commander of US European Command, piloted his last aircraft on active duty last week, receiving the celebratory hosing upon landing at Stuttgart Army Airfield in Germany. Wald, who will retire this summer, led US and coalition air forces at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During his 35-year career, Wald flew as a forward air controller in Vietnam and led one of the air strikes during NATO combat air operations over Bosnia; he also held numerous command positions. At the “fini” flight ceremony, Wald had the extraordinary honor of being made an honorary chief master sergeant.
A new Navy missile could fill a long-range air-to-air need for the U.S. Air Force’s fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation fighters. The Navy’s portfolio acquisition executive for munitions posted information on the AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missile online on Aug. 22, the same day it unveiled the project at the service’s…