The Air Force has named Pacific Air Forces’ 17th Operational Weather Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, the best operational weather squadron for 2006. The 17th OWS covers 110 million square miles and 42 countries, the largest area of any of USAF’s eight operational weather squadrons, reports Capt. Yvonne Levardi. During 2006, the unit completed a merger with the 20th OWS, formerly at Yokota AB, Japan, two months early and about $50,000 under budget, and began work on a merger with 11th OWS at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in addition to handling mission planning requirements during Super Typhoon Ioke, among other tasks.
The Air Force on Jan. 6 released nearly a dozen photos of F-22 and F-35 fighters returning to Puerto Rico after supporting the raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—the first official images of forces who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve.
