DOCSLIB.ORG

Readiness at Risk

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

February 2013/$5 Readiness at Risk Living Boneyard Air Dominance Lessons From WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Unconventional. Undetectable. Undeniable. The F-35A Lightning II delivers the 21st century capabilities U.S. and thE F-35 lightning ii tEAM allied forces need. An innovative combination of stealth, speed, NORTHROP GRUMMAN f-35 and cutting-edge sensors allows it to fly through or slip past BAE SYSTEMS lightning ii advanced air defenses, virtually undetected. Superior battlespace PRATT & WHITNEY awareness leaves the enemy nowhere to hide. And that gives lOCKhEED MARtin pilots unprecedented power to engage the target and return home. The F-35A Lightning II. Rising to the challenges of the 21st century. See it in action – F35.com. 301-64993_F35_Unconventional_AFM.indd 1 10/4/12 5:04 PM February 2013, Vol. 96, No. 2 Publisher Craig R. McKinley Editor in Chief Adam J. Hebert Editorial [email protected] Editor Suzann Chapman Executive Editors Michael Sirak John A. Tirpak Senior Editors Amy McCullough 26 Marc V. Schanz FEATURES Associate Editor Aaron M. U. Church 4 Editorial: The Perils of Air Parity By Adam J. Hebert Contributors USAF must preserve readiness, keep Walter J. Boyne, Jack Broughton, John modernization on track, and retain top- T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, Rebecca notch airmen as funds decline. Grant, Peter Grier, Richard P. Hallion, Marina Malenic 26 Sharpening the Nuclear Sword By Aaron M. U. Church Production [email protected] Air Force Global Strike Command’s Managing Editor bombers and missile forces are at an Juliette Kelsey Chagnon increasing level of readiness. Assistant Managing Editor 32 Living Boneyard Frances McKenney By John A. Tirpak 32 The Aerospace Maintenance and Editorial Associate Regeneration Group runs a warehouse, June Lee not a graveyard. Senior Designer 40 The Readiness Question Heather Lewis By Marc V. Schanz Money will come from somewhere, but Designer Air Force leaders hope budget cutters Darcy N. Lewis don’t create a hollow force. Photo Editor Zaur Eylanbekov 45 NATO’s Wobble By Peter Grier Production Manager The Atlantic alliance is as important Eric Chang Lee as ever, but the US will face new chal- lenges in getting its partners to pull Media Research Editor their weight. Chequita Wood 58 Emergency Care by Air By Marina Malenic Advertising [email protected] Military aircrews are mastering the art Director of Advertising of treating injured troops on the move. William Turner 1501 Lee Highway 66 Blue Skies for the B-1 Arlington, Va. 22209-1198 Photography by Jim Haseltine Tel: 703/247-5820 About the cover: Troops board a C-17 Text by Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Telefax: 703/247-5855 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. See “The Airmen at Dyess AFB, Tex., keep their 47 Readiness Question,” p. 40. USAF photo by B-1s ready for action worldwide. www.airforce-magazine.com SrA. Chris Willis. AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2013 1 Air Force Association 1501 Lee Highway • Arlington, VA 22209-1198 Telephone: (703) 247-5800 74 The Crucible of Vietnam Toll-free: (800) 727-3337 By Rebecca Grant Press 1 if you know your party’s extension. From 1964 to 1973, the Air Force paid Press 2 for Membership. a terrible price in lives and aircraft. Press 3 for Insurance and other Member Benefit programs. 79 The B-47’s Deadly Dominance Or stay on the line for an operator to direct your By Walter J. Boyne call. The crash reports were a sobering Fax: (703) 247-5853 litany of human error and design prob- lems that are unthinkable by today’s Internet: http://www.afa.org/ standards. E-Mail Addresses 84 The Condor Legion Field Services [email protected] By John T. Correll In the Spanish Civil War, the Luftwaffe Government Relations .................. [email protected] practiced for World War II. Industry Relations .......................... [email protected] 89 The Blooding of America’s Jet Events .................................... [email protected] Fighters Membership ................. [email protected] By Jack Broughton The first US pilots in Korea had to learn Insurance/Member Benefits............................... [email protected] 74 on the job, in the toughest possible way. Policy & Communications (news media) ......... 94 Air Dominance From Normandy to [email protected] the Bulge By Richard P. Hallion CyberPatriot [email protected] With control of the skies, the Army Air Forces relentlessly pounded the Germans. Magazine Advertising ............................ [email protected] AFA National Report ............... [email protected] DEPARTMENTS Editorial Offices [email protected] 6 Letters Letters to Editor [email protected] 10 Washington Watch New Pentagon boss; Fiscal follies; Leon’s legacy .... Air Force Memorial Foundation [email protected] 14 Air Force World For individual staff members 18 Index to Advertisers first initial, last name, @afa.org (example: [email protected]) 79 22 Senior Staff Changes 49 Chart Page: Up, Down, Up, Down, AFA’s Mission and ... Up? Our mission is to promote a dominant United 56 Flashback: Brain Buckets, Hanoi Style States Air Force and a strong national defense 63 Verbatim and to honor airmen and our Air Force heri- tage. To accomplish this, we: 64 Keeper File: What Wilbur Thought of Educate the public on the critical need for Gas Bags unmatched aerospace power and a techni- 100 AFA National Report cally superior workforce to ensure US national security. 101 Reunions Advocate for aerospace power and STEM 94 104 Airpower Classics: C-47 Skytrain education. Support the Total Air Force family and pro- Air Force Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) February 2013 (Vol. 96, No. 2) is published monthly by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, mote aerospace education. Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing offices. Membership Rate: $45 per year; $110 for three-year membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $5 each. USAF Almanac issue $8 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice. Please include mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Trademark registered by Air Force Association. Copyright 2013 by Air Force Association. 2 AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2013 Extended Range Predator B EXTREME PERSISTENCE • 42-hour ISR-only endurance • 2,900 nmi mission radius • Field retrofitable to standard MQ-9 Reaper/Predator B • High-capacity landing gear • Proven multi-role platform for long endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions ©2013 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. www.ga-asi.com Leading The Situational Awareness Revolution Air Force Magazine_0113_r1.indd 1 1/7/13 5:04 PM Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief The Perils of Air Parity HE Air Force faces daunting long- Jack Broughton recounts the early, dif- Coalition air forces quickly gained Tterm financial challenges. More ficult days of the Korean air war in this control over Iraq in 1991. The Air Force’s than a decade of rising budgets dur- issue in “The Blooding of America’s Jet dominance was so clear that some of ing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Fighters.” USAF’s “young jet fleet was Saddam Hussein’s jet fighters were were largely consumed by operational thrust into a trial by fire. Air Force P-80 flown to Iran for sanctuary. expenses and growth in a handful of pilots on a comfortable tour in Japan In 1999, Serbian defenses were me- mission areas. Overall, the so-called quickly became combat F-80 pilots,” thodically ground down by USAF-led boom times have left the Air Force Broughton writes. “Most of the limited NATO airpower during Operation Allied with fewer airmen and an aircraft fleet US Air Force units establishing posi- Force. older and smaller than before the 9/11 tions in Korea were overrun,” as the Taliban air defenses were eliminated terror attacks. invading North Korean forces swept without much ado in late 2001, and Af- Budgets are expected to decline go- F-51s and F-80s aside on their drive ghanistan has offered a benign operat- ing forward, and in many ways the Air ing environment ever since. Force is already in a tougher position USAF must preserve readi- In the 2003 Iraq war, Iraq literally than it was back in 2001. Because of ness, keep modernization on buried aircraft in the sand in an attempt the high cost of manpower, USAF has track, and retain top-notch to save them. shed thousands of uniformed person- The professional, all-volunteer mili- nel. The service has reduced end airmen as funds decline. tary force, high levels of readiness since strength by more than 40,000 airmen the 1980s, state-of-the-art combat air- since 2004 and is now approximately south. Then, for a short time, the MiG- craft, and advanced training programs the same size it was in 1947. 15 outclassed anything USAF had on like Red Flag and the USAF Weapons Most Air Force aircraft inventories are the peninsula. School create an Air Force without peer. geriatric. Some new purchases—such Experience, training, and new The Air Force has made air domi- as the Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned equipment such as the F-86 Sabre nance look so easy that many now take reconnaissance aircraft and the C-27 allowed USAF to battle back in the it for granted. A perception that the Air small airlifter—may no longer be worth skies over Korea, but the early days Force is already good enough works to their operating costs as strategic needs were deadly and grim. By June 1951 USAF’s detriment because security in change.
Recommended publications
  • Shelf List 05/31/2011 Matches 4631

    Shelf List 05/31/2011 Matches 4631

    Shelf List 05/31/2011 Matches 4631 Call# Title Author Subject 000.1 WARBIRD MUSEUMS OF THE WORLD EDITORS OF AIR COMBAT MAG WAR MUSEUMS OF THE WORLD IN MAGAZINE FORM 000.10 FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM, THE THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM YEOVIL, ENGLAND 000.11 GUIDE TO OVER 900 AIRCRAFT MUSEUMS USA & BLAUGHER, MICHAEL A. EDITOR GUIDE TO AIRCRAFT MUSEUMS CANADA 24TH EDITION 000.2 Museum and Display Aircraft of the World Muth, Stephen Museums 000.3 AIRCRAFT ENGINES IN MUSEUMS AROUND THE US SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIST OF MUSEUMS THROUGH OUT THE WORLD WORLD AND PLANES IN THEIR COLLECTION OUT OF DATE 000.4 GREAT AIRCRAFT COLLECTIONS OF THE WORLD OGDEN, BOB MUSEUMS 000.5 VETERAN AND VINTAGE AIRCRAFT HUNT, LESLIE LIST OF COLLECTIONS LOCATION AND AIRPLANES IN THE COLLECTIONS SOMEWHAT DATED 000.6 VETERAN AND VINTAGE AIRCRAFT HUNT, LESLIE AVIATION MUSEUMS WORLD WIDE 000.7 NORTH AMERICAN AIRCRAFT MUSEUM GUIDE STONE, RONALD B. LIST AND INFORMATION FOR AVIATION MUSEUMS 000.8 AVIATION AND SPACE MUSEUMS OF AMERICA ALLEN, JON L. LISTS AVATION MUSEUMS IN THE US OUT OF DATE 000.9 MUSEUM AND DISPLAY AIRCRAFT OF THE UNITED ORRISS, BRUCE WM. GUIDE TO US AVIATION MUSEUM SOME STATES GOOD PHOTOS MUSEUMS 001.1L MILESTONES OF AVIATION GREENWOOD, JOHN T. EDITOR SMITHSONIAN AIRCRAFT 001.2.1 NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, THE BRYAN, C.D.B. NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM COLLECTION 001.2.2 NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, THE, SECOND BRYAN,C.D.B. MUSEUM AVIATION HISTORY REFERENCE EDITION Page 1 Call# Title Author Subject 001.3 ON MINIATURE WINGS MODEL AIRCRAFT OF THE DIETZ, THOMAS J.
  • Brochure Brooks Montage.Qxd

    Brochure Brooks Montage.Qxd

    Brochure Brooks_Montage.qxd 06.06.2007 12:53 Uhr Seite 1 Brochure Brooks_Montage.qxd 06.06.2007 12:53 Uhr Seite 2 Brochure Brooks_Montage.qxd 06.06.2007 12:53 Uhr Seite 3 einz Krebs was raised and lives in Southern His originals, limited fine art print editions, and other H Germany where he spends most of his free high quality collector's items are sought after all over time either flying or painting. the world. Heinz’s fine art print editions have been authenticated and further enhanced by the personal He is a passionate aviator, a commercial- and test signatures of many of the world's most historically pilot, as well as a flying instructor with more than significant aviators. 10,000 hours of flying time and almost 22,000 landings to his credit. Heinz has flown 81 different types of This artist has been blessed with a stunning natural powered aircraft ranging from Piper Cubs to jet talent, his ability is simply breathtaking. The one fighters and 39 different glider aircraft models. thing, however, which has always fascinated the early bird Heinz Krebs was to combine his two most-loved But all his life he has had one other love besides his activities in life, and create: Aviation Art. flying – fine arts, especially painting in oils. What makes his aviation art so unique is that, being able to draw on his life-long experience of both subjects, Heinz is able to convey true portraits of flight full of romance, action, and drama. Brochure Brooks_Montage.qxd 06.06.2007 12:53 Uhr Seite 4 eavy stock, acid-free paper.
  • The Origination and Evolution of Radio Traffic Analysis: World War II

    The Origination and Evolution of Radio Traffic Analysis: World War II

    DOCID: 3860741 UNCLASSIFIED The Origination and Evolution of Radio Traffic Analysis: World War II ( b ) ( 3 ) - E' . L . 86 - 3 6 ____I ··· Tb;• artitle it UNCLASSJF1ED OJrcept for the author's biography which is classified as marked. The bombing of the Philippines by the Japanese on 8 December 1941 came as a shock to the United States even though some Americans were braced for other attacks following the infamy of Pearl Harbor the previous day.1 After the near destruction of the U.S . fleet in Hawaii, the Japanese were focused on the rows of B-17s and P-40s parked neatly in the mid-day sun at Clark Field. MacArthur's air force was destroyed on the ground on that Monday afternoon without a fight. On that day, Lieutenant Howard W. Brown, a radio intelligence veteran attached to the Second Signal Service Company at Manila, changed the mission of the Army intercept unit from Japanese diplomatic to potentially more lucrative air force communications and began reconstructing the tactical military nets serving the attacking Japanese. Thus began U.S. Army radio traffic analysis in World War II. In Europe, our entry into the war spurred closer cooperation with British signals intelligence. Radio traffic analysis, as indeed the entire field of Sigint, was comprehensively developed by the British following more than two years of war with the Germans. Bletchley Park, home of Britain's Government Code and Cipher School (GC&CS), became the center of Allied Sigint efforts in World War II. This included the preparation and training of U.S.
  • Second Strike V8 N2 Flight of an Ancient Warrior

    Second Strike V8 N2 Flight of an Ancient Warrior

    The Newsletter for the Superformance Owners Group May 15, 2008 Volume 8, Number 2 FLIGHT OF AN ANCIENT WARRIOR The Collins Foundation B-17 “Nine-O-Nine” over Charlotte September 8, 1995. Taken from the B-24 Chase Plane. Prelude I graduated from college and went to work at Pratt and Perhaps you think it a bit odd that a story about a B-17 Whitney just as the piston engines were being replaced would show up in a Cobra newsletter. Not as odd as you by jets. I was privileged to work on such incredible may think. Many Cobra owners were born during or just aircraft as the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, B-1 Lancer, and after Word War II when the American love affairs with others. But my heart will always belong to the P-51 airplanes and automobiles were closely intertwined. Mustang, the P-38 Lightning, the F4U Corsair, the B-25 Both are in our blood. Mitchell, and the B-17 Flying Fortress – the machines that served us well as we fought to save our world. Born in Charlotte North Carolina during the first year of the war, I was raised on a steady diet of victory through One September day in 1995 I got to live the dream of a airpower and later as Detroit caught the wave, a steady lifetime. When I got home I wrote down this story so diet of V8 muscle that brought that feeling of freedom that I would always have the memory just as it and power and yes even salvation home to our garages.
  • United States Air Force and Its Antecedents Published and Printed Unit Histories

    United States Air Force and Its Antecedents Published and Printed Unit Histories

    UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND ITS ANTECEDENTS PUBLISHED AND PRINTED UNIT HISTORIES A BIBLIOGRAPHY EXPANDED & REVISED EDITION compiled by James T. Controvich January 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS User's Guide................................................................................................................................1 I. Named Commands .......................................................................................................................4 II. Numbered Air Forces ................................................................................................................ 20 III. Numbered Commands .............................................................................................................. 41 IV. Air Divisions ............................................................................................................................. 45 V. Wings ........................................................................................................................................ 49 VI. Groups ..................................................................................................................................... 69 VII. Squadrons..............................................................................................................................122 VIII. Aviation Engineers................................................................................................................ 179 IX. Womens Army Corps............................................................................................................
  • 521St AIR MOBILITY OPERATIONS WING

    521St AIR MOBILITY OPERATIONS WING

    521st AIR MOBILITY OPERATIONS WING MISSION LINEAGE 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion (Separate) established, 28 Feb 1942 Activated, 4 Jul 1942 Redesignated 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, 11 Mar 1943 Redesignated 501st Tactical Control Group, 31 Dec 1945 Inactivated, 25 Sep 1947 Redesignated 501st Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 18 May 1949 Activated, 10 Jun 1949 Redesignated 501st Tactical Control Group, 16 Mar 1952 Redesignated 501st Tactical Control Wing, 18 Dec 1957 Disestablished and inactivated, 18 Nov 1960 Redesignated 521st Tactical Control Wing, 31 Jul 1985 Redesignated 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, 18 Aug 2008 Activated, 4 Sep 2008 STATIONS Drew Fld, FL, 4 Jul 1942 Camp Myles Standish, MA, 20 Nov-28 Dec 1943 Popham, England, 7 Jan 1944 Boxted, England, 2 Feb 1944 Ibsley, England, 18 Apr 1944 Plymouth, England, 19 May-6 Jun 1944 Vierville-sur-Mer, France, 7 Jun 1944 Cricqueville, France, 2 Jul 1944 Villedieu, France, 5 Aug 1944 Le Teilleuie, France, 14 Aug 1944 Aillieres, France, 23 Aug 1944 Les Loges-an-Josas, France, 31 Aug 1944 Paris, France, 4 Sep 1944 Ham-sur-Huere, Belgium, 16 Sep 1944 Verviers, Belgium, 26 Sep 1944 Gosselies, Belgium, 18 Dec 1944 Verviers, Belgium, 7 Jan 1945 Bruhl, Germany, 23 Mar 1945 Bad Wildungen, Germany, 11 Apr 1945 Gottingen, Germany, 12 Apr 1945 Nohra, Germany, 26 Apr 1945 Fritzlar, Germany, 25 Jun 1945 Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, 19 Jul 1945 Bad Kissengen, Germany, 3 Feb 1946 Wiesbaden, Germany, 5 Jul-25 Sep 1947 Zwingenberg, Germany, 10 Jun 1949 Landsberg, Germany, 17
  • From 1964 to 1973, the Air Force Paid a Terrible Price in Lives and Aircraft

    From 1964 to 1973, the Air Force Paid a Terrible Price in Lives and Aircraft

    From 1964 to 1973, the Air Force paid a terrible price in lives and aircraft. Scherbakov/RIA Novosti photo The CruCible of VieTnam or the past four decades, the The airspace over Vietnam was a Above: The wreckage of a US Navy A-6 Air Force has lost relatively lethal environment for airmen. At times, Intruder draws a crowd of North Viet- namese in 1968. USAF’s aircraft losses few aircraft in combat. This the USAF advantage in air-to-air com- were devastating, and the Navy and level of combat success was bat slipped perilously close to parity. Marine Corps also lost many aircraft. not always the norm. Airmen paid the price in aircraft down, Right: An F-105 “Thud” crash-lands at FAs recently as the Vietnam War, USAF lives lost, and survivors taken prisoner. Udorn RTAB, Thailand, in 1967. Forty and the United States struggled to control Overall, USAF lost 2,254 fixed percent of the F-105 inventory was lost during the war. the air, failed to achieve safety from wing aircraft from February 1962 to enemy air defenses, and struggled to October 1973 in the Southeast Asia overcome an adversary air force. Many theater of operations. Some 1,737 for a week to pass without an aircraft of the problems were self-inflicted, but fixed wing aircraft were combat losses, lost in combat operations. the fact remains that the years 1964 to and another 517 aircraft went down in Some of the cumulative totals were 1973 were tremendously difficult for related noncombat operations. Losses shocking: The Air Force lost 40 per- the Air Force and American airpower.
  • P-38J Over Europe 1170 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT

    P-38J Over Europe 1170 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT

    P-38J over Europe 1170 US WWII FIGHTER 1:48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT intro The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement. It became famous not only for its performance in the skies of WWII, but also for its unusual appearance. The Lightning, designed by the Lockheed team led by Chief Engineer Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson, was a complete departure from conventional airframe design. Powered by two liquid cooled inline V-1710 engines, it was almost twice the size of other US fighters and was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns plus a 20 mm cannon, giving the Lightning not only the firepower to deal with enemy aircraft, but also the capability to inflict heavy damage on ships. The first XP-38 prototype, 37-457, was built under tight secrecy and made its maiden flight on January 27, 1939. The USAAF wasn´t satisfied with the big new fighter, but gave permission for a transcontinental speed dash on February 11, 1939. During this event, test pilot Kelsey crashed at Mitchell Field, NY. Kelsey survived the cash but the airplane was written off. Despite this, Lockheed received a contract for thirteen preproduction YP-38s. The first production version was the P-38D (35 airplanes only armed with 37mm cannon), followed by 210 P-38Es which reverted back to the 20 mm cannon. These planes began to arrive in October 1941 just before America entered World War II. The next versions were P-38F, P-38G, P-38H and P-38J. The last of these introduced an improved shape of the engine nacelles with redesigned air intakes and cooling system.
  • Aeronautics Interior [Flight

    Aeronautics Interior [Flight

    AERONAUTICS INTERIOR AERONAUTICS ENG AN AEROPLANE THAT Històrica de la Sénia, 2021. Back: Diagram of the Polikarpov I-16 fighter plane, named “Mosca”. d’Aviació Centre by José Ramón Bellaubí. SB-2 bomber known as “Katiuska”, created of the Tupolev Full-scale replica Front: DOES NOT FLY IS NOT AN AEROPLANE, IT IS A WORK OF ART FRANCESC TORRES INSTALLATION 06.18 — 09.26.2021 [ FRANCESC TORRES FLIGHT Organised by ] “The quickest way to illustrate the supreme importance of an ideal is for the price to achieve it, defend it, and keep it, to be as high as possible. No one risks their life or is killed by an abstraction devoid of physicality unless they are upheld by faith. Nor does one go to the sacrifice – that unfathomable mystery – for a mere trinket, unless the trinket is sacred, and with the relevant dose of conviction about the certainty that it is just that (...). Hence, we seem to be condemned, until proven otherwise, to the perpetual possibility of bloodshed as an integral part of human behaviour. For life to have value, it is imperative that we be mortal; it is the universal measure of everything. Mortality makes the sacrifice of life for the defence of non-negotiable princi- Detail, circa 1400. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya Detail, circa 1400. Museu Nacional d’Art ples represent the highest level of surrender that can be expected from a human being. Someone said, “Wise is nature; it makes us die so that life is worth something”. This determines that the monopolised privilege of significantly shortening the life of others constitutes Crucifixion of Saint Peter.
  • Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War

    Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War

    The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War PRINTER: strip in FIGURE NUMBER A-1 Shoot at 277% bleed all sides Stephen L. McFarland A Douglas P–70 takes off for a night fighter training mission, silhouetted by the setting Florida sun. 2 The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War Stephen L. McFarland AIR FORCE HISTORY AND MUSEUMS PROGRAM 1998 Conquering the Night Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War The author traces the AAF’s development of aerial night fighting, in- cluding technology, training, and tactical operations in the North African, European, Pacific, and Asian theaters of war. In this effort the United States never wanted for recruits in what was, from start to finish, an all-volunteer night fighting force. Cut short the night; use some of it for the day’s business. — Seneca For combatants, a constant in warfare through the ages has been the sanctuary of night, a refuge from the terror of the day’s armed struggle. On the other hand, darkness has offered protection for operations made too dangerous by daylight. Combat has also extended into the twilight as day has seemed to provide too little time for the destruction demanded in modern mass warfare. In World War II the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) flew night- time missions to counter enemy activities under cover of darkness. Allied air forces had established air superiority over the battlefield and behind their own lines, and so Axis air forces had to exploit the night’s protection for their attacks on Allied installations.
  • Not for Publication Until Released by the House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee United States House of Representatives

    Not for Publication Until Released by the House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee United States House of Representatives

    NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL RELEASED BY THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE STRATEGIC FORCES SUBCOMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE PRESENTATION TO THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE STRATEGIC FORCES SUBCOMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBJECT: Status of the Air Force Nuclear Security Roadmap STATEMENT OF: Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz, Commander AF Global Strike Command January 21, 2010 NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL RELEASED BY THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE STRATEGIC FORCES SUBCOMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Chairman Langevin, Ranking Member Turner, distinguished Members of the Committee, it is an honor to appear before you today for the first time as the Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). I thank you for the opportunity to discuss the current status of the Air Force’s newest major command. Upon assuming office in summer 2008, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz launched a comprehensive, multi-faceted roadmap designed to restore a culture of compliance, rebuild the nuclear enterprise, invest in nuclear capabilities, and ensure nuclear weapons will remain safe, secure and reliable. Air Force Global Strike Command was established as a key part of this roadmap. This Command is a visible commitment to the nuclear enterprise, clearly aligning the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and nuclear-capable bomber forces under a single chain-of-command, providing focused oversight and advocacy of the Air Force’s nuclear forces. The Command was founded on the premise that as important as other defense priorities may be, none are more important than the responsibility for operating, maintaining, securing and supporting nuclear weapons.
  • The Great Aviation Graveyard: New Aerial Images Show Hundreds of Planes Left to Die Across the American Deserts | Daily Mail Online

    The Great Aviation Graveyard: New Aerial Images Show Hundreds of Planes Left to Die Across the American Deserts | Daily Mail Online

    7/23/2015 The great aviation graveyard: New aerial images show hundreds of planes left to die across the American deserts | Daily Mail Online Feedback Like 2.8m Follow @MailOnline DailyMail Thursday, Jul 23rd 2015 8AM 68°F 11AM 78°F 5­Day Forecast Home U.K. News Sports U.S. Showbiz Australia Femail Health Science Money Video Travel Columnists Latest Headlines Science Pictures Login YOU MIGHT LIKE Sponsored Links by Taboola A Rising Middle Class: Investment Opportunity? Read Our Report. Prudential The 5 Best Credit Cards with No Interest to Help You Get out of Debt Quicker NextAdvisor See What These Everyday Objects Look Like Cut In Half. Awesome PopFotos 12 Enormous Dogs Who Are Actually Just Big Babies Refinery29 Why Living Life Cooped Up In Your Comfort Zone Is Killing You Elite Daily 20 Photos That Will Make You Want Summer Right This Minute Elite Daily The great aviation graveyard: New aerial images show hundreds of planes left to die across the American deserts Aerial imagery taken from the U.S Navy, U.S Air Force and Google Maps show retired airplane 'boneyards' in Arizona, California and New Mexico The planes are stored in the dry conditions of the desert to stop them rusting in the hope that some may fly again whereas others are used for spare parts Large commercial planes including Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed and Airbus aircraft are all pictured By VICTORIA WOOLLASTON PUBLISHED: 07:08 EST, 6 June 2013 | UPDATED: 15:58 EST, 6 June 2013 105 View comments Eerie photos have emerged of hundreds of retired aircraft parked in rows and set formations in aviation graveyards across America.