When USAF created its air and space expeditionary force (AEF) concept, the premise was that AEFs would head overseas. Hurricane Katrina proved that the AEF can be useful at home, too. At Keesler AFB, Miss., the Air Force has set up the 97th Air Expeditionary Group, comprising initially some 190 airmen from around the country. Its working up to a total of 250 airmen, who will relieve the folks at Keesler from support for FEMA and other groups. That means Keesler can get down to restoring Keesler.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.