The 451
st Air Expeditionary Group at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, officially became the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing on July 2 during a ceremony led by Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of Air Forces Central. Brig, Gen, Guy Walsh is the wing’s new commander. He previously led the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing. Kandahar is the site of increased Air Force activity for the US troop buildup in Afghanistan. Back in March, for example, the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, a C-130J unit, was established at the base under the then-451st AEG to handle the increasing tactical airlift demands. (Air Force photo caption by 1st Lt. Noelle Caldwell)
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.