Those new Pacific Air Forces C-17s at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, evacuated residents off tiny Wake Island—located 2,300 miles west of Honolulu—in anticipation of Super Typhoon Ioke, which is expected to hit Wake today with 155 mph winds. All 188 residents left the island, arriving at Hickam and from there dispersing to area hotels. It was the first time Wake residents have evacuated the nine-foot-long island due to a storm, since its 20-30 buildings can withstand 130 mph gales, reports the Honolulu Advertiser.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.