The Air Force has awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross to A-10 pilot Maj. Keith Wolak, who participated in the 2005 combat-search-and-rescue effort to retrieve a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan, reports the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. Wolak, who currently serves as assistant director of operations with the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C., was part of a joint CSAR task force. His initial role was to coordinate the 17 participating aircraft, but he had to join in attacks on the Taliban forces closing in on the SEAL team and put down the infrared marking for the rescue helicopter.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.