The 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale AFB, La., on June 9 took possession of the journal of the late Stanley Bolesta, a World War II airman who chronicled his experiences in a German POW camp. Bolesta’s widow Joy donated the journal. “This is not just a story about a World War II prison camp; it is the day-to-day memoirs of a US airman who lived through the experience of being a prisoner of war in a German Stalag,” explained Maj. Harry Dyson, staff director for Barksdale’s 2nd Bomb Wing. Bolesta, then a second lieutenant, was captured in November 1943 in France after evading capture for several months following the downing of his B-26 bomber. Museum officials plan to display copies of the journal pages while the actual journal is preserved under protective glass. (Barksdale report SrA. Chad Warren)
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.