The 12-nation Heavy Airlift Wing formed in July 2009 at Papa AB, Hungary to jointly operate three C-17 airlifters under the Strategic Airlift Capability arrangement has reached 1,000 flying hours with a Feb. 12 mission returning from Afghanistan. The HAW flew its first mission to Afghanistan in October 2009 and followed with a first mission to Iraq in December. The unit has also flown missions to support NATO forces in Kosovo and has participated in the international relief operations in Haiti, following the devastating Jan. 12 7.0 magnitude earthquake. USAF Col. John Zazworsky, HAW commander, said, “We have been able to transition safely from planning to high operations tempo in a very short time because of great teamwork among the Boeing training system and maintenance, NATO Airlift Management Agency, our host base, and the airmen of the HAW.” (HAW Feb. 15 release; also read HAW Feb. 9 report on Haiti support by Capt. Juha Miettinen)
More than two dozen F-35 Lightning II fighters are heading to Kingsley Field, Ore., after Air Force Secretary Troy Meink signed the official record of decision to base the jets there on Oct. 5, clearing the last bureaucratic hurdle for the Air National Guard base to host the service’s third…