Six Air Force Reservists assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown ARS, Ohio, earlier this week briefed members of Congress in Washington, D.C., on the unit’s just-completed mission in the Gulf of Mexico to contain the massive oil spill there. “We’re proud of what we have contributed to our nation and our communities,” said Maj. Mark Breidenbaugh, an entomologist with the wing. Over the course of a five week deployment to Mississippi, two of the unit’s specially modified C-130s sprayed nearly 150,000 gallons of dispersant to help break up the oil slick. This marked the first time that these C-130s were called on to support efforts to contain an oil spill of national significance. (AFNS report by Col. Bob Thompson)
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…