An all-female crew flew a C-130E combat cargo mission in and out of Iraq. The Daily Press in North Carolina reported the first-of-its-kind event on Sept. 26. The six women in the crew are all assigned to the 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, N.C. The fact that the airlifter they flew dates from 1962 is certainly worth a mention, too.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.