Airmen of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Field and the local populace will get to see a presentation in mid-August on the plans to switch the wing from the A-10 to the F-15, reports The Republican. BRAC 2005 spared the ANG unit’s flying mission but opted to switch it from close air support to air defense—a not insignificant change. Last year’s BRAC actions stripped F-15s from the ANG unit at Otis ANG, Mass.—the 102nd FW—which has just learned that it will take up intelligence gathering instead of flying.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.