Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen joined Air National Guard officials at a groundbreaking in Memphis for a new $215 million Air National Guard base. According to Associated Press news service, the plan is to move the 164th Airlift Wing from its present location and increase the size of its base to provide for four additional C-5 airlifters. The unit currently had four C-5s assigned, when the new facility is complete next year, it will be able to accommodate eight.
The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.