Airmen of the 56th Rescue Squadron—lately of NAS Keflavik, Iceland—have flown their first mission from their new home at RAF Lakenheath, England. Currently, the 56th RQS has some 75 airmen—air and ground crews—that made the move from Iceland to England earlier this year, along with some of the unit’s HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters. Over the next year, the unit will grow to about 200 airmen.
Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises despite the government shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1.
