Daily Report

Dec. 15, 2008

Bone Check

B-1B bombers, which fly with two pilots and two weapons systems officers enabling longer loiter time, are keeping an eye on coalition ground troops in Southwest Asia, using the B-one’s new Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods to analyze potential targets in...

Murtha Eyes Bonuses

The powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), continues to sound a warning bell that defense spending cuts must come and, according to a Government Executive report, suggests that the now rosy recruiting environment...

Bolling Temporary HQ for Nuclear Command

The Air Force announced Dec. 12 that Bolling AFB, D.C., will be the temporary headquarters location for Air Force Global Strike Command, the new nuclear-focused major command that will oversee the service’s ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers. AFGSC, to be headed...

Fighting IEDs From the Air

Utilizing sensor-carrying lighter-than-air balloons and unmanned aerial vehicles allows for a lot of anti-improvised explosive device capability to be brought to bear relatively quickly, Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, said Dec....

Herk Crews Revel in Afghan Environment

According to C-130 flight engineer, SSgt. Jim Meyer, the “versatile” and “dynamic” Hercules is in its element in Afghanistan because Herk crews “can get in and out of places no one else can.” In the view of the Illinois Air...

New F-15 Flight Pattern Strikes a Nerve

The Oregon Air National Guard’s test of a new flight pattern that takes the F-15s of the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland International Airport over residential areas northeast of Portland as a means to cut fuel cost and save flying...

Army Bolsters USAF Airdrops

The Army Reserve has deployed its 824th Riggers unit from Ft. Bragg, N.C., to Southwest Asia to help the Air Force prepare supplies for airdrop to ground forces. “We are here to rig life-sustaining food, water, fuel, ammunition, and any...

WASP Williams Dies

Retired Lt. Col. Betty Jane Williams, who flew as a Women Airforce Service Pilot during World War II, died Dec. 8 at age 89, reports the Los Angeles Times. Williams had earned her pilot’s license in a civilian training program...

Briefer Briefs

Lt. Gen. Larry James took command of 14th Air Force (Strategic Air Forces-Space) during a Dec. 9 ceremony at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., where he also will serve as Joint Functional Component Commander for Space. • The Senate on Dec. 8...

Air Sorties from SWA

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest AsiaDec. 10-11, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 53 31 84 12,744 CAS/Armed Recon 88 138 226 35,413 Airlift 260 260 44,655 Air refueling 92 92 17,208 Total 662 110,020...