Active Fighter Unit Takes up Noble Eagle Duty: Because members of the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing, based at New Orleans airport, have been dealing with the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in their personal lives and to their Guard facilities, USAF tapped the active duty 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., to begin flying Operation Noble Eagle missions normally handled by the ANG unit. The 33rd’s 60th Fighter Squadron will be covering Noble Eagle for “an undetermined amount of time,” said USAF officials.
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…