The 375th Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, Ill., officially became the 375th Air Mobility Wing on Wednesday to reflect the Total Force Integration effort that aligns it with the Illinois Air National Guard’s 126th Air Refueling Wing, also located at Scott, in an active association to operate KC-135 tankers. The 375th, which currently flies the C-21 VIP transport, will pick up the 906th Air Refueling Squadron from Grand Forks AFB, N.D., where the active duty 319th ARW is shedding units and KC-135s under BRAC 2005. At Scott, the 906th ARS will comprise 135 KC-135 pilots, boom operators, and maintainers who will work side-by-side with their Air Guard counterparts operating 126th ARW tankers. The 906th ARS is expected to be fully staffed and operational at its new home by fall 2011. (Includes Scott release)
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…