The Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Fighter Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base last week dispatched the first two of its F-15 fighters to their new home with the 104th FW, also of the Massachusetts ANG, at Barnes Airport. BRAC 2005 transfers the Otis F-15s to Barnes, which loses its A-10s. Last month, the folks around Barnes got a presentation on the mission switch from Warthog close air support to Eagle air defense. The Republican reports that Barnes will get two or three F-15s each month until it reaches its full complement of 18.
A cracked engine part sparked a massive fire that caused shrapnel and burn injuries to an Airman and nearly $15 million in serious damages to a B-1B Lancer bomber last spring. The bomber’s jet engine was running as mechanics at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, were working on its hydraulics…