Qualifying First Iraqi Aircrew Leads to MacKay Trophy:
Five hand-picked USAF airmen who trained and flew the initial qualifying flight with the first Iraqi Air Force on an operational mission will receive the MacKay Trophy for 2005. The US airmen comprising “Train 60” who made the historic flight in an IAF C-130E on Feb. 13, 2005, are: Maj. Michael Frame, instructor pilot, Pope AFB, N.C.; Maj. Brian Lewis, IP, Pope; SMSgt. John Spillane, instructor loadmaster, Little Rock AFB, Ark.; MSgt. Thomas Lee, instructor flight engineer, Ramstein AB, Germany; and MSgt. Corey Turner, instructor loadmaster, Dyess AFB, Tex. The airmen will receive their award from Gen. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff, in November.
When F-35s, F-22s, and F-15s took to the skies over Savannah, Ga., earlier this month, it marked the first time in 19 years the Air Force had hosted William Tell, its prestigious air-to-air competition. The leaders responsible for organizing the fighter meet don’t think it will take anywhere near that long…