Last Belle Crewmember Dies: Robert Hanson, 85, the last surviving member of the crew of the B-17 Memphis Belle, died Oct. 1 of heart illness at his home. Hanson was the radio operator for the famous bomber that was one of the first to complete 25 combat missions in World War II. The crew completed their last mission on May 17, 1943, and returned with the bomber to the states to help sell war bonds.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…