Daily Report

Sept. 23, 2010

IED Claims Airman’s Life

SrA. Michael. J. Buras, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist from Fitzgerald, Ga., has died of wounds from an improvised explosive device detonation in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. He died on Tuesday at age 23. “Our sincere condolences...

Etchberger Enshrined in Pentagon Hall of Heroes

CMSgt. Richard Etchberger was inducted Wednesday into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes, one day after he posthumously received the Medal of Honor. During the dedication ceremony, the Air Force leadership unveiled a panel inscribed with Etchberger’s name that is now...

James Tapped to Lead ISR Issues on Air Staff

President Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. Larry James to oversee intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance matters on the Air Staff, USAF officials announced Wednesday. If the Senate approves this nomination, James would fill the void left by the departure of Lt. Gen. David Deptula...

Army Offers USAF Tips on Training Combatives

The Air Force and Army are working together “quite a lot” in order to help the former develop a new program for training hand-to-hand combatives, says Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who heads the land service’s initial military training. “Combatives...

Minot Missileers Score High in Inspection

The 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D., received the highest rating—satisfactory—during a nuclear surety inspection held earlier this month at the base, reports the Minot Daily News. A visiting Air Force Global Strike Command inspector general team conducted the...

Ellsworth’s Workhorses

The B-1s of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., completed 1,100 combat missions and 14,000 combat flight hours between July 2009 and July 2010 while supporting operations in Southwest Asia, according to the wing’s commander. Rapid City’s Fox...

Adding Dragon Spears to the Gunship Quiver

The Air Force has awarded L-3 Communications a $61 million contract to add a weapons package to eight MC-130W Combat Spear special-mission aircraft to give them a gunship-like attack capability. Under the terms of the deal, L-3 will provide the...

Old School Fighting

Although US defense strategy now focuses primarily on counterinsurgency operations, it’s still important to give incoming soldiers a proper foundation in all types of combat scenarios, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, deputy commanding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command for...

Celebrating Airmen Great and Small

On display now in the Pentagon is “Pioneers in Blue,” a collection of 38 photographic portraits of airmen from different career fields and backgrounds who have contributed to the Air Force’s greatness over the years. The display features airmen such...

Chipping Away at Space Costs

The Air Force Research Lab anticipates launching a test satellite into space in November that carries a novel computer chip, known as Virtex-5 QV. This chip is designed to be significantly more durable, and AFRL officials also expect it to...

Air Sorties from SWA 091310

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Sept. 13-14, 2010 Sortie Type OND OEF OND/OEF Total YTD ISR 44 157 201 18,726 CAS/Armed Recon 28 125 153 24,764 Airlift 284 284 44,549 Air refueling 96 96 12,284 Rescue 33 33 5,650 Total...