Reviewing history in the military, the Air Force and triumphs and misadventures in airpower. Sixty-five years ago this week, the largest airlift mission in history came to an end in Berlin, Germany. The unprecedented humanitarian undertaking known as the Berlin Airlift spanned 464 days. More than 2.3 million tons of cargo delivered to blockaded West Berlin via air sustained the city during that time, according to Air Mobility Command. American aircrews flew more than 189,000 flights, accumulating 600,000 flying hours. The capital city of recently defeated Nazi Germany had, like the rest of the country, been parsed into four zones among…

Air Force Sec. Deborah Lee James last night threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals’ doubleheader against the New York Mets. The Nationals hosted James, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, and several airmen as part of their Air Force Appreciation Night. Judging by this photo of the catch, James seemed pretty on-target — perhaps a bit low and outside, but she served up a much better pitch than 50 Cent’s infamously bad throw earlier this year. James also posted this photo of her warming up beforehand. And Gen. Welsh’s wife Betty tweeted some photos of the Welshes at…

Brig. Gen. Patrick Mordente never knows quite how to answer when he’s asked what happens on a typical day at the 86th Airlift Wing he commands at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Which is why he was on board when public affairs  approached him about a project that would chronicle 24 hours of operations across six groups, 27 squadrons and three countries — Moron Air Base in Spain and Chievres Air Base in Belgium as well as Germany, Mordente wrote in the introduction to a 190-page digital photo book called “Day in the Life.” Public affairs professionals shot more than 7,000 photos…

Ever wonder what the Air Force’s top commanders wish they’d known when they were young lieutenants just starting out? Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh asked six general officers just that at this month’s Air and Space Conference at National Harbor, Maryland. Their advice was at times poignant, candid, anecdotal and to the point. Here’s what they had to say. Lt. Gen. Stephen “Seve” Wilson, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana: “I wish I would have known when I was a lieutenant the importance of relationships and how with them you can do…