Tyndall Begins Cleanup and Evaluation of Aircraft, Will Start Allowing Families to Return
The Air Force on Tuesday has started allowing families to return to Tyndall AFB, Fla., for short periods of time so they can retrieve valuables and take pictures of damage to their homes, USAF head of public affairs Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas said. The base was largely destroyed last week when the Catagory 4 Hurricane Michael ripped through, causing “catastrophic damage” to many base facilities as well as family housing. Up to 19 F-22 Raptors were left behind to ride out the storm, but USAF officials said on Tuesday the Raptors were bnot destroyed. On Wednesday, airmen will begin to pull F-22s out of destroyed hangars so they can determine how badly the Raptors are damaged, while civil engineers begin construction of temporary hangars. Read the full story by Brian Everstine and Steve Hirsch.
US Service Member Involved in Su-27 Crash in Ukraine
Investigation: G-Induced Loss of Consciousness Caused April Thunderbirds Crash
The fatal crash of Thunderbird No. 4 in April was caused by the pilot experiencing G-induced loss of consciousness during a training flight, the Air Force announced Tuesday. Maj. Stephen “Cajun” Del Bagno became incapacitated as he experienced 8.5 Gs-plus during a Split S maneuver, as the Thunderbirds practiced the “High Bomb Burst Rejoin” move during a routine training mission out of Nellis AFB, Nev. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
Dunford: Fight Against ISIS “Far From Over” as the Group Proves to be Resilient
The US-led coalition and partnered nations have made “encouraging” progress in the fight against ISIS, but the group still has a resilient presence in Iraq and Syria, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Countering Violent Extremist Organizations Chiefs of Defense Conference at JB Andrews, Md., Dunford said ISIS only has about 2 percent of the territory it once had, and its access to resources has been “greatly reduced.” The group is getting about 100 new foreign fighters per month, and US-backed fighters are detaining hundreds of the fighters, he said, adding that “ISIS is far from defeated.” Also on Tuesday, US Army Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters that ISIS is a “very resilient enemy,” holed up in areas with supplies and tunnels that make it hard for the coalition and US-backed fighters to target them. However, the coalition is “degrading them every day, not just killing” by taking away weapons and logistical support. Ten months ago, the coalition kicked off its final phase of the fight against ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, but the group still lingers because ISIS, from the beginning, knew their last fight would come down to this area and planned “to be able to sustain,” said Ryan. —Brian Everstine
RADAR SWEEP
—The US military has increased screening for South Koreans visiting US bases in Japan, placing that country on a list that also includes North Korea, China, and Russia, although US Forces Japan did not explain the change: Stars and Stripes.
—There are reports that China’s just-announced H-20 stealth bomber might be revealed during next year’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force: thedrive.com.
—Benjamin Roden, charged last year with setting off a pipe bomb outside a military recruiting station in Oklahoma, has been found not guilty on the grounds of insanity: Associated Press.
—Proposals to create a new Space Force will be the topic of the next meeting of the National Space Council, set for Oct. 23: Space News.