The crews that fly, operate, and maintain USAF’s E-8C Joint STARS ground surveillance aircraft have reached a milestone 1,000 sorties for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Dec. 4 flight “wasn’t the longest, shortest, busiest, or slowest,” but it marked “another outstanding performance,” says Lt. Col. Timothy Manning, commander of the 16th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron, in the Desert Eagle. He said the credit goes to all three Joint STARS units from Robins AFB, Ga., that have taken turns flying missions over Iraq since 2003.
The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, as the conflict with Iran flared up again—though officials say the ceasefire remains in effect.