Hurricane Katrina strikes the US Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and surrounding area. USAF and other services begin massive relief operations, including aeromedical evacuation, command and control, and airlifting supplies and rescue forces.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.