The Air Force has confirmed that two F-15C fighters have been missing since about 2 p.m. CST when they were flying a training sortie over the Gulf of Mexico. The two fighters are from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla. Search efforts are underway. Some local news outlets are reporting that the two F-15s collided. Air Force spokesman MSgt. Andrew Leonhard told CBS4 TV in Pensacola, Fla., that circumstances of the disappearance are unknown, but the service “had no contact from the pilots.” The Air Force has only recently returned many of its F-15 A-D model fighters to flying status after a prolonged grounding following the catastrophic breakup of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C in November.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.