The Air Force on Aug. 5 plans to inactivate the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center unit that has a 42-year history traveling around the world to repair aircraft that have suffered combat or crash damage, but the mission will continue with a smaller workforce—down from more than 300 people to 56—and as an expeditionary depot maintenance flight at the ALC in Georgia. “We are going to change in size and name, but we are going to retain the capability,” said Maj. Joseph Giuliani, 653rd CLSS commander, remarking that current and former members have “always been a highly skilled, highly trained, well-organized unit.” USAF had five such units but has been inactivating each one, and the last one at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah will go in October. (Robins AFB, Ga., report by Wayne Crenshaw)
In order to deny China “sanctuaries” from which it can launch air and missile salvos during a potential invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. Air Force needs to buy far more B-21 bombers and F-47 fighters than currently planned, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
