Within days of the B-52 bomber missile transfer misadventure that already has cost a Minot AFB, N.D., officer his command and derailed—if only temporarily—several munitions technicians from their primary duty, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne penned a letter to all airmen reminding them that America counts on their “discipline and attention to detail.” He wrote: “The American public expects the same discipline in a Predator squadron, a space control squadron, or in our long-range bomber community.” He exhorted supervisors to remember that “making sure that airmen know and understand what is needed day-to-day is a major part of [USAF] success and requires self-discipline. He applauded the innovations airmen have introduced but emphasized that “driving innovation does not mean abandoning discipline.”
All 12 American bombers deployed in Britain rapidly returned to the U.S. on Oct. 4 following security concerns about a potential Iranian threat to their base in the U.K.