The courageous actions of MSgt. Alan Andrews and MSgt. Michael Wingler, production supervisors with the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at an air base in Southwest Asia, helped save lives and prevent the loss of a B-1B bomber on Jan. 18, according to a Feb. 1 release. The B-1 had just launched from the base when it began to experience problems and had to come back to make an emergency landing. After touchdown, the aircraft’s No. 3 tire and brake caught fire. As the aircrew began to evacuate the aircraft, the two master sergeants rushed to the burning, munitions-laden airplane to extinguish the flames. “We just knew we had crew members on board, and we absolutely wanted to make sure they were safe,” explained Andrews. Both airmen are deployed from Ellsworth AFB, S.D. (379th AEW report by SSgt. Kelly White)
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.
