An F
-16 pilot with the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, received a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in providing close air support to ground forces in Iraq, and his father pinned on the medal. Maj. Gen. Michael Collings pinned the DFC on his son Capt. George Collings during a ceremony Oct. 29, reports TSgt Michael O’Connor. In Iraq in January, the younger Collings scrambled to lead a CAS to support coalition ground forces that were pinned down by enemy fire when they attempted to reach a downed AH-64 Apache helicopter. He located the friendly forces and dropped a 500-pound laser-guided bomb, taking out six enemy forces, stopping 30 others, and enabling the coalition ground forces to take control.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.