The 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., the Air Force’s sole B-2A bomber unit, has adopted the service-wide practice of presenting its dedicated crew chiefs with coins that formally recognize their work and their responsibility for the aircraft that they maintain. The wing held a ceremony April 10, during which the base’s B-2 crew chiefs each received certificates and gold-plated coins bearing the imprint of a B-2 with the tail number of the individual aircraft for which they are responsible. Col. Robert Wheeler, 509th BW commander, made the first coin presentation to SSgt. Scott West of the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who is the dedicated crew chief for the Spirit of America, the wing’s flagship B-2. “I felt very appreciated,” said West of the recognition, adding that it will make him even more motivated in his work. (Last month, Whiteman treated one of its B-2 dedicated crew chiefs, SSgt. Zachary Teague, to a B-2 incentive flight, making him the first enlisted airman to receive that honor.) (Whiteman coin report and incentive flight report by SSgt. Bryan Vandersommen)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.