T
he Air Force’s first dedicated combat search and rescue exercise providing realistic task force training concludes today at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Exercise Angel Thunder was first held in 2006, but only as a base level exercise at Davis-Monthan. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley directed Air Combat Command to develop a command-wide exercise for CSAR resources, which reverted to ACC control last year. ACC like what it saw at Davis-Monthan, so took over sponsorship for this year’s event. Keeping it at the Arizona facility made sense, since Davis-Monthan has the right elements—pararescue airmen and equipment and a unique desert environment, plus an urban training complex called Desert Lightning City. A1C Melissa Copeland reports that Angel Thunder tests the theater spin-up capabilities of participating personnel and examines how Air Force assets are integrated for mission planning and execution.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…