The venerable B-52 bomber hit another milestone recently—the 50th anniversary of the combat ready declaration for the first B-52 wing. The Air Force on March 12, 1956, declared the 93rd Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, La., combat ready. USAF had activated the new unit less than a year earlier, on June 29, 1955. USAF aircrews took the bomber into combat for the first time on June 18, 1965, during the Vietnam War.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.