Air Combat Command boss Gen. John Corley has appointed Brig. Gen. Mark Barrett, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., to head the accident investigation board looking into the fatal B-52 crash July 21 off the coast of Guam. The B-52 had deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La. According to a July 25 statement from Langley, Barrett, as president of the board, must offer an opinion as to the cause of the crash that claimed the lives of six airmen.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.