Four Air National Guard F-16 units squared off against contract A-4K Skyhawk aggressors and realistic surface-to-air threats during the large-force employment exercise Northern Lightning at Volk Field, Wis., earlier this month. “The training and quality of operational test we received from flying against the A-4 aircraft was top-notch,” Arizona 162nd Fighter Wing pilot Lt. Col. Richard Wigle said in a Draken International release. “To accomplish this same operational testing with Air Force organic assets would have cost five ?times as much … This is a model that needs to be considered on a larger scale across the Air Force,” Wigle added. “Our airspace supports being able to fly interdiction missions against robust surface and air-to-air threats, get to a bombing range where they can employ ordnance, then … fight their way home,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Hansen, Volk operations director, in a release. “The units will all gain combat training to a level commensurate with a Red Flag exercise, at a very significant cost savings,” he said. F-16s and some 700 pilots, maintainers, and support personnel from the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Arizona ANG, as well as five Draken A-4Ks, tankers, and Active Duty reconnaissance support took part in the exercise June 8-19, according to a release.
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 9mm pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest killing him on July 20, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY testified during separate courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31.
