Daily Report

Sept. 8, 2009

Airman Dies in Iraq

The St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday afternoon that an airman assigned to MacDill AFB, Fla., has died from injuries sustained by an improvised explosive device outside of Baghdad Tuesday local time. The newspaper cites a US military spokeswoman as confirming...

Missing Assets?:

The Pentagon has so far failed to capitalize on its “most powerful moving target sensor in the joint inventory” by not utilizing USAF’s E-8C Joint STARS for operations in Afghanistan, says defense analyst Loren Thompson. In a new Lexington Institute...

Air Guard Delays Condor Hearing

The Air National Guard, says Maine Gov. John Baldacci, has postponed a Sept. 2 hearing on its draft environmental impact statement for proposed changes to the Condor military operating area, in which it planned to fly low-level training flights. Air...

Serving With “Best and Brightest”

In a letter to airmen, Air Combat Command boss Gen. John Corley, who relinquishes command Sept. 10 and formally retires from the service Nov. 1, wrote that after some 36 years, “The most important thing I learned is that the...

McChrystal on Sept. 3 Airstrike

US Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, on Sept. 5 visited the site of the airstrike that Afghan officials claim killed numerous civilians in addition to insurgents. In a radio broadcast, he said, “I...

Still in Search of Mission

The New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Fighter Wing briefed local lawmakers last week, according to an Eyewitness News 4 report, on its situation and pursuit of a new mission since the unit must give up its F-16s under USAF’s...

A Little Help From Friends

Without forces of its own, the fledgling 17th Air Force/Air Forces Africa can plan theater security cooperation events but has to request assistance to carry them out, like recently engaging 18 airmen from Ramstein AB, Germany, and two Army Reservists...

Afghan C-27As Begin Flight Test

Alenia North America last month flew the first of 18 G.222—military designation C-27A—that its parent Alenia Aeronautica is refurbishing near Naples, Italy, for use by the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps. According to a Sept. 3 release from the 438th...

Afghan Assessment Under Review

US Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took command of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan in June, last week turned over the strategic assessment requested by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates and JCS Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen reminded Pentagon reporters...

Sharing Mechanic Training Tips

US Air Forces in Europe sent a four-person traveling contact team from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AB, Italy, to Romania late last month to explain how the US Air Force trains and equips its enlisted airmen to conduct...

Reserve Wing Dedicates Herk to Army Unit

Recalling the unit’s World War II heritage, in which it partnered with the 18th Airborne Corps, Air Force Reserve Command’s 440th Airlift Wing has dedicated one of its C-130s to the 18th, reports the Fayetteville Observer. Courtesy of BRAC 2005,...

Predator Crashes in Afghanistan

On Sept. 5, Air Forces Central reported that an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle had crashed Sept. 4 in Eastern Afghanistan at about 8:45 p.m. Kabul time. AFCENT said the crash was not due to hostile fire and there were...

Air Sorties in SWA 090109

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Sept. 1, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 26 31 57 10,632 CAS/Armed Recon 28 83 111 23,528 Airlift 150 150 32,148 Air refueling 57 27 11,515 Total 375 77,823 OIF=Operation Iraqi...