Pacific Air Forces airmen in the Philippines to participate in an annual exercise turned instead to aid mountain villagers caught in the horrific mudslide of Feb. 17. The 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, with aircrews and C-130s deployed from Yokota AB, Japan, transported relief workers and equipment. Airmen with the 36th Contingency Response Group out of Andersen AFB, Guam, were put on 12-hour alert to be ready to open an airfield or provide other assistance.
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…