Daily Report

Dec. 7, 2009

Fixing F-35 Program

Lockheed Martin appears willing to bite the bullet to bolster the F-35 program, saying last week they had discussed with top Pentagon buyer Ash Carter—who has said he wants the company to share cost and schedule pain—putting future award fees...

“Too Many Delays”

The leaders of the Senate Tanker Caucus expressed dismay at Northrop Grumman’s threatened pull out from the KC-X tanker competition, but they believe the Air Force should press on. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), co-chairmen of...

Need More Air in Dakotas

USAF is pressing forward with plans to expand the Powder River Complex (new name to be Powder River Training Complex) to provide more airspace for training by B-1B and B-52H bombers stationed at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and Minot AFB, N.D.,...

Praising Airpower, Aerospace Tech

Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn told a defense business conference in New York last week, “Without question, our offense against the Taliban and al Qaeda depends on airpower.” He praised industry’s partnership with DOD to develop the aerospace technology that...

Wanted: Experts in Nuclear Ops

Air Force Global Strike Command, just activated in August to centralize USAF’s nuclear operations, is looking for active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, civilians, and even retired and former military personnel to serve in the new command. AFGSC...

C-5M Aces Surge

The C-5M test force completed surge operations in which the C-5M Super Galaxy flew essential cargo over 31 days of non-stop sorties from Dover AFB, Del., to Incirlik AB, Turkey. Maj. Stephanie Halcrow, commander of the 436th Maintenance Squadron at...

Airmen Receive Bronze Stars

The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service to Lt. Col. Anthony Maisonet, TSgt. Nicole Davis, and TSgt. Dameon Jackson. Maisonet, commander of the 75th Security Forces Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, led the standup of the...

Wild Weasel POW Dies

Retired Col. John J. Pitchford, who remained a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for seven years, died Dec. 2 at age 82. Pitchford flew the F-100F Super Sabre Wild Weasel during the Vietnam War and was shot down...

Air Sorties from SWA 120709

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Dec. 1, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 22 28 50 15,873 CAS/Armed Recon 18 66 144 32,562 Airlift 144 144 45,353 Air refueling 35 35 15,961 Total 313 109,749 OIF=Operation Iraqi...