Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command are working to establish three new active associate flying squadrons that will partner with Reserve units at Keesler AFB, Miss., March ARB, Calif., and Peterson AFB, Colo., by 2012 to operate C-130 transports or KC-135 tankers. Already the 52nd Airlift Squadron, a C-130 flying unit, stood up Oct. 3 at Peterson to cooperate with AFRC’s 302nd Airlift Wing there to fly and maintain the wing’s 12 C-130H3 aircraft. At March, the projected date for activating the 912th Air Refueling Squadron is Oct. 1, 2010. This unit, deactivated earlier this year, will provide aircrews and ground support to AFRC’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing, which flies 12 KC-135s. No date has been set for activation at Keesler of the 345th AS, which will partner with AFRC’s 403rd Wing in operating and maintaining its eight C-130Js. (AFRC report) (Peterson report by TSgt. Daniel Butterfield)
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…