Airmen from the 12-nation Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa AB, Hungary, are gathered with airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein AB, Germany, for four days of aerial port training in the area around Ramstein and Grafenwoehr, Germany. The participants will conduct two personnel airdrop flights and two heavy equipment airdrops during the drills, which run through Thursday. They represents the first time that the HAW airmen, who operate three C-17s, have been part of a heavy equipment drop. “I am very excited to see this portion of our mission grow,” said USAF Maj. Brian Nicosia, HAW chief of wing weapon and tactics flight. USAF Maj. Daniel Lang, HAW director of operations, said the Ramstein airmen “are a perfect role model for our unit as we build airdrop capability.” The 86th AW operates a squadron of C-130Js. (Ramstein release)
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…