The exercise NORAD ran late last week to practice its ability to secure the Super Bowl in Detroit was not sufficient, according to command officials. There were “weather issues” that prevented a complete run-through of the exercise, which featured hundreds of personnel and military aircraft—fighters, E-3 AWACS, aerial refuelers—and civilian airplanes. NORAD plans to reconvene the cast for a repeat on Feb. 1. A little “weather” doesn’t stop the Super Bowl, but we realize this was just a test. If it were the “day,” we fully expect NORAD would punch on through.
Gene Smith, Former POW and AFA Chair, Dies at 91
Jan. 19, 2026
Lt. Col. Richard “Gene” Smith, who overcame five and a half years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Hanoi Hilton from 1967 until 1973, died Jan. 16. He was one day short of his 91st birthday.
