Air Force

This week in history

By Oriana Pawlyk on June 24, 2014 Air Force, History, Pentagon, Photos, Space

Reviewing history in the military, the Air Force and triumphs and misadventures in airpower. On June 24, 1997, the Air Force released “The Roswell Report, Case Closed,” stating there was no evidence that any kind of life form was found in the Roswell, New Mexico, area in connection with the reported UFO sightings that occurred decades prior. When Americans began to focus on the skies in the 1940s, Roswell became a hot topic in the UFO department. It started when rancher “Mac” Brazel found debris scattered over some of his land in July 1947. According to History.com, he “turned the material…

NatGeo’s “Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand” airs again June 25

By Oriana Pawlyk on June 23, 2014 Afghanistan, Air Combat Command, Air Force

Airmen filed in to watch the premiere of “Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand” at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, on June 11 before it aired on the National Geographic channel that weekend. Air Combat Command bases held advanced showings of the follow-up series to last year’s successful miniseries “Inside Combat Rescue,” which ran as the channel’s highest-rated new series for the 2012-13 TV season, according to TVbytheNumbers. The documentary follows a unique group of Security Forces airmen whose main mission is to go outside the wire and protect expeditionary bases. “Defending air bases is not just an Army job…

Afghan Air Force completes first C-130 mission

By Brian Everstine on June 19, 2014 Afghanistan, Air Force, Video

A group of six pilots and loadmasters with the Afghan Air Force flew the first C-130 mission by an all Afghan aircrew this week. On June 16, the aircrew flew cargo, 120 personnel and two casualty evacuation patients from Kabul to Kandahar and back. “With the use of the C-130, we have the ability to do so much more,” Afghan Air Force 1st Lt. Khail Shinwar, C-130 Hercules pilot, said in a news release on the mission. “We’ve supported the elections, our Afghan National Army soldiers, senior leadership and transport the injured on CASEVAC missions with this aircraft.” Air Force…

Inside the hat toss, fly over at the USAFA graduation

By Brian Everstine on May 30, 2014 Air Force, Air Force Academy, Video

YouTube user Joe Cole uploaded this video today from inside the Air Force graduation, providing an awesome glimpse at the singing of the Air Force song, the famous hat toss and the Thunderbirds flyover. If you missed it, Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the class of 2014, telling the new officers they need to adapt to the changing military.

Airman arrives just in time for daughter’s graduation

By Oriana Pawlyk on May 29, 2014 AF kids, Air Force

Prom season might be over, but for many, graduation is just around the corner. For Taylor Crafton, a student at Grand Forks Central High School in North Dakota, her graduation was more than just stepping into the next phase of her life. Crafton’s father, Chris, a chief master sergeant in the Air Force, wasn’t expected to attend the ceremony. The family even had a cardboard cutout of him made to sit in his place, WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks reported. But the surprise came as Taylor was about to receive her diploma — her dad ran to join her on stage.…

‘Surrounded by heroes’: Arlington at 150

By Stephen Losey on May 23, 2014 Air Force

Earlier this week, Military Times published “Arlington at 150: Celebrating America’s Heroes,” a multimedia feature on Arlington National Cemetery. In honor of Arlington’s anniversary and Memorial Day, I thought I’d reprint a column I wrote, “Surrounded by heroes,” originally published in the Dec. 8, 2008 issue of Air Force Times and the other Military Times papers. On the cold, rainy morning of Nov. 13, a team of eight airmen stood at attention in Section 59 of Arlington National Cemetery. At their leader’s command, the pallbearers faced left, snapped their heels together, took a few steps in place, and then marched…

President Obama to sign bill honoring the Doolittle Raiders

By Oriana Pawlyk on May 23, 2014 Air Force, History, Uncategorized

A two-year effort to honor members of the famed Doolittle Raiders with the nation’s highest award for distinguished achievements will come full circle today, when President Obama signs the measure into law alongside retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, one of the four surviving members. The Congressional Gold Medal recognizes members of the Doolittle Raiders for their “outstanding heroism, valor, skill and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo” during World War II. “I wish all of the Raiders were here to take part in the bill passing in the House and Senate,” Cole said in…

Border Collie protects MacDill from pesky birds

By Brian Everstine on May 22, 2014 Air Force, Air Mobility Command, Uncategorized, Video

NBC News has the story of Sonic, the trusty Border Collie assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to protect the base’s aircraft from flocks of birds. The rescue dog patrols the flight line every day chasing birds. The base does use cannons, but those can be predictable and birds get used to them, Sonic’s trainer Lindsey Garven told NBC. “I’m basically the chauffeur, and when I find the birds … I get as close as possible to them … and she goes after them,” Garven said. Check out the video to see Sonic in action.

Starstruck: Gen. Welsh hangs out with Jimmy Fallon, Dolly Parton in New York

By Oriana Pawlyk on May 14, 2014 Air Force, Leadership

Well color us jealous. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and wife, Betty, met the virtuoso of late night TV yesterday, and Jimmy Fallon and crew seem like they all had a good time. “@BettyWelsh20 and I had a great time at the Tonight Show w/ @jimmyfallon…What a gracious & hilarious host!” Welsh tweeted from his official twitter page. They also met Dolly Parton, Fallon’s guest star of the night. “Pretty cool to thank @DollyParton for a lifetime of giving & watch her rock the stage. My fav…’The Sweetest Gift’,” Welsh later tweeted. Welsh is in New York…

Officer assignments with foreign air forces still open

By Oriana Pawlyk on May 12, 2014 Air Force

If you’ve always wanted to head overseas, here’s your chance. Active-duty officers interested in embedding in another country’s air force to build international relationships have until May 22 to indicate their interest in time for the next assignment cycle, Air Force Personnel Center officials recently announced. Officers selected for Military Personnel Exchange Program, or MPEP, serve two- or three-year assignments, depending on the specific requirement, according to the release. In addition to performing primary career field duties, exchange officers “support U.S. national security goals by promoting mutual understanding and trust between the U.S. Air Force and foreign forces.” “The program…

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