The recent stand up of the 434th Fighter Training Squadron at Laughlin AFB, Tex., means the wing is departing from its previous singular mission of turning out novice pilots. Col. David Petersen, 47th Operations Group commander, calls the activation of the new squadron a “great new step in developing a training continuum.” TSgt. Joel Langton reports that the new 34-person squadron expects each year to graduate 80 pilots—qualified to fly the F-15C, the F-15E, the F-16, the A-10 and F-22.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…