Aerospace World

By Peter Grier

F-22 Makes First Supersonic Flight On Gulf Duty The F-22 went supersonic for the first time Oct. 10, 51 years to the When he declared, on Nov. 11, that the “must be prepared to week after the sound barrier was act” against defiant Iraq, President Clinton authorized a new Persian Gulf buildup broken for the first time in the skies that was conspicuously top-heavy with airpower. over Edwards AFB, Calif. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen signed a deployment order sending 98 Lockheed Martin test pilot Jon land-based warplanes—70 of them USAF aircraft—to the Gulf. There, the Air Beesley flew Raptor 4001, one of Force aircraft would join an already large USAF force bedded down in a number two F-22s now at Edwards, to Mach of Gulf states. 1.1 at 29,000 feet, while using the Sent as a unit was an entire USAF Air Expeditionary Force. It comprised afterburner. From takeoff to landing, six B-1B heavy long-range bombers; 12 F-16CJ defense suppression aircraft; the flight took about three hours. 12 F-15C/D air superiority fighters; and 12 F-16C multirole fighters. “From all indications, the Raptor flew past the sound barrier with ease,” Also sent to bulk up the USAF presence were: said Lt. Col. C.D. Moore, commander ■ 12 F-117 stealth fighters. of the F-22 Combined Test Force. ■ 12 B-52H long-range, heavy bombers. “This is just one step of many for the ■ Four F-16CJ defense suppression craft. program.” The next step for the F-22 program is Included in this wave of deploying aircraft were two Navy EA-6B jammers and supercruise flight: breaking the sound 12 Marine F/A-18 multirole fighters. Additionally, 41 support aircraft—37 fixed- barrier without use of the fuel-gulping wing and four rotary-wing—deployed. afterburner. Some 3,000 additional Army soldiers went to the region, as did an additional The Air Force wants to start F-22 Navy aircraft carrier and Marine amphibious group. New Patriot air-defense units production late this year with re- and personnel and a light infantry battalion also went. lease of money for two representative Addressing a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Clinton production test vehicles. Congress explained the deployments in this way: has decreed that the Raptor has to “A failure to respond could embolden [Saddam] Hussein to act recklessly, complete at least 4 percent of its test signaling to him that he can, with impunity, develop these weapons of mass program hours before this purchase, destruction or threaten his neighbors. ... [And it] would permanently damage the however. credibility of the UN Security Council to act as a force for promoting international That would require an acceleration peace and security.” of the current flying schedule.

On Retired Pay, Wait’ll Next Year Congressional leaders deferred a last-minute effort to include a boost tion went into effect, will receive 50 major contributor to unrest in the ranks in military retired pay in the Fiscal percent of the average of their three and poor retention levels, according 1999 budget deal that was struck in highest years of salary. to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. mid-October. Those who joined after July 31, The JCS Chairman, Army Gen. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1986, get only 40 percent of their Hugh Shelton, recently told Congress said that such an increase is one of its highest-three-years average. about surveys showing that perceived top priorities, and it will likely receive In a surprise move that occurred inequity in retirement is one of the serious consideration on Capitol Hill during final budget negotiations, the top three reasons people are leaving next year. White House supported a proposal the service. The desire for change stems from by Rep. John P. Murtha (D–Pa.) the fact that the current system has to raise pensions back to the 50 USAF Has New Operational three levels of generosity. percent level. Doctrine Service members who joined the Republican leaders demurred, The Air Force on Oct. 6 released military prior to a 1980 congres- however, saying they wanted to study a new operational doctrine for the sionally mandated cut, and who the issue at length via hearings next Expeditionary Aerospace Force of serve 20 years, receive 50 percent year. They also cited expense: The the 21st century. of their last year’s base pay as their move could cost up to $3 billion “Just as technology, world threats, retired pay. over the next five years, depending and opportunities change, so must Twenty-year veterans who joined on how cost-of-living increases are our doctrine,” wrote Chief of Staff between that point in 1980 and an- handled. Gen. Michael E. Ryan in the forward other in 1986, when a second reduc- The disparities in retired pay are a to Air Force Doctrine Document 2,

10 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 “Organization and Employment of Aerospace Power.” AFDD 2 follows release of AFDD 1, “Basic Air Force Doctrine,” in Sep- tember 1997. It takes the aerospace power discussion to the next level of detail, said officials, describing how the service organizes and em- ploys its forces at the operational level of war. Photo by Rich Lipski Washington/ Post “This publication also outlines how to set up, plan, and execute Air Expeditionary Forces,” said Lt. Col. Bob Poyner, chief of the Aerospace Power Division at the Air Force Doctrine Center at Maxwell AFB, Ala. AFDD 2 can be understood on its own, said officials, though reading AFDD 1 gives an understanding of terms used and a larger conceptual framework. The effort to develop a new doctrine USAF Maj. Kimberly Markland broke the tape as top female finisher of the Marine began at the behest of former Air Corps Marathon in Washington Oct. 25. Markland, 34, a clinical laboratory tech­nician Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. at Lackland AFB, Texas, finished in 2 hours, 49 minutes, seven seconds. The first Fogleman after his long-range plan- female Marine came in at 3:11:46. Markland had already qualified for the 2000 US ning summit in 1996. Olympic marathon trials before this, her 10th marathon finish.

AEF Bombers Complete Mission Repairs made to the B-2s dur- page across the Caribbean islands Three B-2s and three B-52s from ing the AEF operation showed and the tip of Florida. the 2d Air Expeditionary Group com- that stealth bombers can indeed The base weather station re- pleted a month-long training deploy- be properly maintained away from corded winds of 112 knots, with ment to Andersen AFB, Guam, on home, said officials. gusts over 149 knots. The slow pace Oct. 6. The Spirits returned to their One B-2 suffered damage to some of the storm—about five miles per home base of Whiteman AFB, Mo., of its low observable tiles, while the hour—caused it to stall over Kees- while the Stratofortresses flew back other sustained relatively minor dam- ler, flooding the base and blocking to Barksdale AFB, La. age to its wing leading edge because area roadways. During their weeks on Guam, the of a static discharge. No deaths or serious injuries were 2d AEG aircraft flew 34 training mis- reported at the installation or nearby sions and logged more than 350 flying Georges Hits Keesler along the Gulf Coast. hours. The bombers flew as far north On Sept. 28, Hurricane Georges Approximately 250 base housing as South Korea and as far east as slammed squarely into Keesler AFB, units were rendered uninhabitable by Wake Island. Miss., after a destructive 10-day ram- wind and water damage, said Kee- sler officials. Base and community marina docks were destroyed, and electrical power was knocked out. Eight on-base shelters, including the Kees­ler Medical Center, protected evacuated personnel as the powerful storm passed by. The unpredictable path of Georges USAF photo by Joan Prichard caused the Air Force to move its mili- tary aircraft to safe havens across the southeastern United States. At Keesler, Hurricane Hunters of Air Force Reserve Command’s 403d Wing were forced to fly nine of their 10 WC-130 storm tracking aircraft to Ellington Field, Texas. They also sent seven of the wing’s C-130Es to Little Rock AFB, Ark. At Duke Field, near Eglin AFB, Fla., the 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC) flew six MC-130s to Ft. Knox, Ky. At NAS JRB New Orleans, La., the Two V-22 Ospreys at Eglin AFB, Fla., were on display for visitors during a week of 926th Fighter Wing (AFRC) sent eight preoperational testing in October. As the CV-22, the tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off O/A-10s to Barksdale AFB. and land like a helicopter and fly like an airplane, will join Air Force Special Opera- At Homestead ARB, Fla., the tions Command starting in 2003. 482d Fighter Wing (AFRC) sent

AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 11 Aerospace World

Ritter vs. Albright

The years-long effort by the international commu- UNSCOM was “hobbled by unfettered Iraqi obstruc- nity to strip Iraq of its capability to make weapons tion and nonexistent Security Council enforcement of of mass destruction foundered and was no longer its own resolutions,” said Ritter. effective, according to Scott Ritter, the former UN Albright and defenders of the Administration, clearly official entrusted with the job. stung by the charges, attempted to respond. Ritter, A desire by US officials to placate allies who did they said, was a low-level worker who did not under- not wish to confront Iraq was just one major reason stand all the dynamics policy-makers had to face. In why UN weapons inspection teams lost their edge, the words of Albright, Ritter didn’t “have a clue about said Ritter, former weapons inspector for the UN what our overall policy has been.” Special Commission, at a meeting with reporters Top officials had more to consider than whether Sept. 16. Ritter resigned his position in August rather “old Scotty-boy didn’t get in” to a suspected weapon than continue to take part in activities he deemed site, said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D–Del.) in one a charade. memorable comment. US and allied officials said they “want to achieve The White House, however, acknowledged the shift disarmament of Iraq,” said Ritter. “What [they] are in Iraqi policy—what one high official called a “tacti- doing is not achieving this.” cal” alteration in approach. They admitted attempts Ritter’s resignation sparked a debate which, among to influence the pace of UNSCOM inspections. other things, highlighted the Clinton Administration’s “We did it in order to have the greatest chance of unannounced change in policy toward Saddam Hus­ overcoming Iraqi efforts at deception,” said Martin S. sein. Indyk, Albright’s top Mideast deputy. Earlier this year, the White House threatened Iraq Ritter said his resignation from UNSCOM and with attack when it blocked UN Special Commission subsequent public appearances were meant to spark (UNSCOM) inspectors from full and free access to discussion about the implications of the UN’s new suspected weapon sites. Dozens of US aircraft and approach to Iraq. thousands of troops were diverted to the Gulf region New details emerged from his efforts, including to back up that threat. intelligence information indicating that Iraq built three Saddam backed down and agreed to access de- or four nuclear implosion devices which lacked only a mands—or at least said he would. But the crisis showed core of fissile material to become atomic weapons—and both him and the US that , , Russia, that Iraq used vehicles painted as Baghdad ice cream and other key nations were weary of confrontation trucks to move weapon contraband during the day. and had no desire to see cruise missiles fly over the Ritter also said that Saddam Hussein had some Iraqi desert again. success in rebuilding his air force. Rather than convince its friends of the need to back They flew more sorties in late 1998 than they did prior up threats with force, the US adopted an unannounced to the Gulf War, the former inspector told reporters. policy of avoiding brinkmanship. On a number of occa- All the fixed-wing aircraft in the Iraqi inventory—such sions, intervention from Secretary of State Madeleine as MiG-29s, Mirage F-1s, SU-27s—were flying, he K. Albright or other top US aides scuttled UNSCOM said. Sorties were limited to takeoffs and landings, surprise inspections, charged Ritter. with a few maneuvers in the middle, and did not ven- In response, Iraq started blocking inspector work. ture beyond central Iraq. On Sept. 1, Iraqi officials barred inspectors from a “They have spare parts and maintenance and they’ve location where they have previously tagged missile got these planes at the point where they can take off parts and stored them for observation. Baghdad then and land. Does that say the sanctions are working? I halted all cooperation with UNSCOM on Oct. 30. say it’s a failure of sanctions,” said Ritter.

its F-16s to Dobbins ARB, Ga. tients from facilities in Key West Behind PA20 lay the idea that the Also at Homestead, Det. 1 of the and Marathon, Fla. US pilot force is a national resource, Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter not a focus of competition between Wing evacuated three F-16s to Phoenix Aviator 20 Takes Off airlines and the military, and should Jacksonville, Fla. Oct. 1 marked the launch of a test be managed as such. At MacDill AFB, Fla., four KC- program intended to keep pilots in “Revolutionary ideas are required 135Rs were flown to McConnell the Air Force by making them more to ensure the high standards of AFB, Kan., and another one to attractive to airlines at the end of their safety and security are preserved Shaw AFB, S.C. military careers. in our nation’s skies as America In the storm’s wake Air Force The new Phoenix Aviator 20 ef- struggles to meet this pilot demand,” air­lifters flew at least 150 missions fort will guarantee enrollees eligible said USAF’s Chief of Staff, Gen. delivering ice, generators, plastic to retire in 2001 a flying spot in the Michael E. Ryan. sheeting, and other relief supplies last two years of their career. In ad- A new PA20 office at the Air Force throughout the affected area. Ac- dition, it will provide up to $1,900 to Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, tive, Guard, and Reserve airlifters pay for commercial pilot licenses, Texas, will serve as an information also ferried medical personnel and written tests, physicals, and other bridge between major airlines and supplies. Two North Carolina ANG requirements for the transition from retiring Air Force pilots. C-130s transported nearly 100 pa- the military to the civilian world. Some pilots eligible to retire in

12 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 The objective of the EELV program is to produce cutting-edge expendable launch systems cheaply after the turn of the century. It is meant to replace the current Delta, Atlas, and Titan fleet of medium and heavy launch rockets. Standardization will be the EELV watchword, with a standard payload USAF photo TSgt.by Lance Cheung interface, standardized launchpads, and standard off-pad processing all helping shave an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion in costs over the life of the program, according to a senior DoD official.

DoD Opens Threat Reduction Agency Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced Oct. 1 the estab- lishment of a new arm of the federal government dedicated to protecting the US and its allies from weapons During a combat employment readiness exercise held in conjunction with the Foal of mass destruction. Eagle ’98 exercise at Osan AB, South Korea, in October, Capt. Kris Kraiger of the 33d The new organization will be Rescue Squadron role-plays amidst the fire and smoke of a simulated emergency called the Defense Threat Reduc- landing of a Black Hawk helicopter. tion Agency.

1999 or 2000 will also receive some transition assistance.

Modernization a Must, Chief Warns The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Michael E. Ryan, said that the Air Force has a balanced, time-phased USAF photo by SrA. Jeffrey Allen modernization plan but that any fur- ther delays will boost costs and hurt readiness. In written responses to readiness questions posed by Sen. John Mc- Cain (R–Ariz.), the Chief said that, in the near term of 1999, moderniza- tion priorities will be the C-17 and space launch ranges. From 2000 to 2002, bomber upgrades and precision guided missiles will be the emphasis. In 2004 and 2005, the F-22 and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle will be among the priorities. Beyond Foal Eagle’s air mission was to attack enemy artillery pieces, reinforcements going that, the Airborne Laser and Joint to the front lines, and key facilities. Such exercises give USAF service members Strike Fighter are scheduled to take on the Korean Peninsula a chance to improve their ability to function in a chemical up modernization money. environment. Here, 36th Fighter Squadron members search for unexploded ordnance “Further delays in these moderniza- after a simulated chemical attack. tion programs will continue to drive up the cost of supporting our current, aging weapons systems—jeopardiz- ing and manufacturing develop- The new organization is composed ing readiness as costs rise within ment. Boeing will then conduct 19 of various old ones rolled together. The the constraints of topline funding,” launches, and Lockheed will have On-Site Inspection Agency, Defense wrote Ryan. nine, said acting Secretary of the Technology Security Administration, Air Force F. Whitten Peters. Defense Special Weapons Agency, EELV Contracts Unveiled “Having two domestic sources will and elements of the Secretary of On Oct. 16 the Air Force announced reduce risk and provide assured ac- Defense’s staff were all combined to that it has picked two contractors to cess to space for both government produce DTRA. develop and build a new series of and commercial payloads,” said an DTRA will have about 2,100 employ- large rockets, the Evolved Expend- Air Force spokesman. ees and a budget of around $2 billion. able Launch Vehicle. Launch sites will be both Cape Though the idea for the agency Boeing and Lockheed Martin were Canaveral AS, Fla., and Vandenberg came from a defense reform initia- the EELV winners. Each will receive AFB, Calif. Launch activity is sched- tive that looked for ways to eliminate a $500 million contract for engineer- uled to begin in 2002. duplication and save money, funds for

AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 13 Aerospace World

cording to the Air Force, although New Defense Review Panel Gets Started several techniques may have to be combined before a satisfactory result The Pentagon announced Oct. 13 the formation of the new National Security is achieved. Study Group. Headed by former US Sens. David Boren (D–Okla.) and Warren Rudman (R–N.H.), and known informally as the Boren–Rudman Commission, the USAF Announces Promotion panel will aim to develop an appropriate US national security strategy for the first Policy Change quarter of the 21st century. The Air Force leadership has ap- The effort is expected to take two and a half years. Secretary of Defense Wil- proved two changes in the Below-the- liam S. Cohen announced the formation and first meeting of the panel. Promotion-Zone program for officers. Plans call for the Boren–Rudman panel to submit three reports. They are to: For majors, below-the-zone pro- motions will be eliminated. For lieu- ■ Determine the global security environment of the first quarter of the 21st century. tenant colonels, BPZ opportunities ■ Analyze the character of the nation during that period and develop an appropri- will be increased, beginning with ate national security strategy. 1999 boards. ■ Recommend alternatives to the current national security apparatus and pro- The reason for the change is that cesses to implement the new strategy. too many young officers were spend- Invited to participate as members of the Boren–Rudman Commission are: ing too much time focusing on and worrying about BPZ chances. Stephen Ambrose, historian. Said Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peter- Anne Armstrong, former US ambassador to Britain and head of the President’s son, USAF deputy chief of staff Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. for personnel: “The problem is that Norman Augustine, former chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin. even though the number of officers Lynne Cheney, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. who get promoted BPZ to major each year is less than 2 percent Bud Dancy, former NBC White House and diplomatic correspondent. of the eligibles, many officers have John Galvin, retired US Army general and former Supreme Allied Commander concluded, quite erroneously, that Europe. success as an Air Force officer can Leslie Gelb, president of the Council on Foreign Relations. only be measured by BPZ promo- tion—and the earlier the better. ... Gary Hart, former senator from Colorado. We need to refocus on what’s really Lee Hamilton, retiring congressman from Indiana. important: development as officers Lionel Olmer, former undersecretary of commerce and member of the President’s in a career field.” Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Before the change, up to 5 per- Donald Rice, former Secretary of the Air Force. cent of the total positions available on the majors’ boards could go Henry Schacht, director and senior advisor to Lucent Technologies. to Below-the-Promotion-Zone fast James Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense and former CIA director. burners. Now the whole promotion Harry Train, retired US Navy admiral and former commander of NATO Atlantic quota will go to those in and above forces. the promotion zone. Pete Wilson, retiring governor of California. Up to 7.5 percent of the slots open to lieutenant boards previously Andrew Young, former US ambassador to the United Nations. went to BPZ. That will now increase to Executive director is Gen. Chuck Boyd, USAF (Ret.). 10 percent. The Below-the-Promotion- Zone allocation for colonel will remain at 15 percent.

THAAD Safe—For Now Despite its string of test failures the the agency are likely to increase in and biological warfare production Theater High Altitude Area Defense coming years, said officials. facilities. missile is not going to be killed—at “This is likely to be, and I’m sorry The program could eventually least, not yet. to say it, a growth industry in the lead to the production of 10 weap- That is what Deputy Defense Sec- Department of Defense—finding ways ons for operational use, said a retary John J. Hamre told lawmakers to mitigate the spread of dangerous notice in the Sept. 9 Commerce who support the program in a meeting technologies, finding ways to contain Business Daily. on THAAD’s future this fall. the proliferation of weapons to other Air Force officials said that they want The US indisputably has to have countries, finding ways to lower the the new warhead to be compatible with something with THAAD’s capability, threat to the United States and to a wide range of existing munitions, said Hamre. The question is, what is our allies” said Deputy Secretary of from the AGM-130 standoff weapon the best way to obtain it? Defense John J. Hamre. to the GBU-24 bomb. It is intended to Defense officials are now studying create widespread physical damage three options for THAAD, Hamre said. USAF Wants Weapon to Hit Chem, to factories, said the CBD notice, The first is to go ahead with the Bio Plants while limiting collateral damage from test program as planned and hope The Air Force plans to spend released agents. that more stringent ground examina- $16 million over nearly four years Neutralizing chemicals or high tions will prevent the glitches that to develop a conventional war- heat from incendiary blasts might have dogged past launches. The head tailored to destroy chemical be ways of reaching this goal, ac- second is to build a new batch of

14 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 15 Aerospace World

test missiles, under more exact- ing quality control conditions. The third option is to meld THAAD with a Navy Theater Wide program, a seaborne high altitude missile defense effort, by developing a common interceptor.

Iran and Nuclear Weapons Iran could be able to deliver nuclear weapons within five years, according to Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, the senior US commander in the Persian Gulf region. “If I were a betting man, I would say they are on track, [and] within five years they would have the capability,” said Zinni, who is commander in chief of US Central Command. Zinni called worrisome Iran’s pro- gram to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, particularly The Joint Strike Fighter X-32A concept demonstrator moved closer to completion as given India’s and Pakistan’s move into Boeing employees prepared the first composite wing skin for shipment to its final the nuclear club this year. assembly plant in Palmdale, Calif., in November. Boeing is competing to build the In addition, Iranians have learned JSF under a joint-service concept demonstration contract. from the Gulf War and developed an “asymmetrical” naval force that might be difficult for the US fleet to deal with, said Zinni. The revamped Slow Down to Speed Up Iranian navy depends on fast-attack patrol boats, accurate anti-ship mis- The following comes from Air Force Doctrine Document 2-2, “Space Opera- siles, and mine-laying submarines. tions,” released Aug. 23, 1998. In the long run Iran “will be a more “It sounds odd, but it is true for a satellite in orbit. How quickly a satellite circles significant problem than Iraq,” said the Earth is determined only by its altitude—high altitude circuits take longer to complete than low ones. Any attempt to ‘speed up’ a satellite by applying more Zinni. thrust will only push the spacecraft out to a higher orbit, thus increasing the While there are moderate elements orbital period (the time it takes to circumnavigate the globe). in Iran, such as President Mohammad “To shorten the orbital period, the satellite must be allowed to fall into a lower Khatami, hard-line elements in gov- orbit, which requires braking (usually by firing a propulsion motor in the direction ernment continue to resist reforms, of flight). Satellites in Low Earth Orbit will complete more frequent revolutions said Zinni in an Oct. 21 session with around the Earth but cannot ‘linger’ over any particular point. To cause a satel- reporters. lite to appear to stand still when seen from the Earth requires pushing the craft “If hard-liners stay in charge, we’re out to Geostationary Earth Orbit—a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles directly going to see ... a country that has above the equator (a difficult proposition in terms of fuel costs). “Satellites that orbit at that altitude but are not directly above the equator will weapon-of-mass-destruction capa- appear to make figure eights from center lines over the equator. The 24-hour bility, a country that still supports orbital period of any geosynchronous orbit corresponds precisely with the time terrorism, a country with hard-liners it takes the Earth to rotate once on its axis.” and extremists in charge. That would be difficult,” said the USCENTCOM chief at a meeting with reporters. On reported congressional plans to spend almost $100 million on military efforts by Iraqi exile groups, Zinni was less than enthusiastic. “I don’t see a Senior Staff Changes lot of viability in the [Iraqi] opposition groups,” he said.

Two Die in F-15E Crash CHANGES: Brig. Gen. Craig R. Cooning, from Dir., Contracting, AFMC, Wright–Patterson Two officers from the 366th Wing, AFB, Ohio, to Prgm. Dir., MILSATCOM Jt. Prgm. Office, AF Prgm. Executive Office, Asst. Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, were SECAF for Acq., Los Angeles AFB, Calif. ... Brig. Gen. Paul W. Essex, from Cmdr., 92d killed Oct. 21 when the F-15E they ARW, AMC, Fairchild AFB, Wash., to Dep. Dir., Reaction Force, Allied Central Europe, NATO, were flying crashed near McDermitt, Kalkar, Germany ... Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Sovey, from Prgm. Dir., MILSATCOM Jt. Prgm. Nev., 80 miles southwest of the base. Office, Asst. SECAF for Acq., Los Angeles AFB, Calif., to Dir., Special Projects, SECAF, They were Lt. Col. William E. Morel Pentagon ... Brig. Gen. Bruce A. Wright, from Cmdr., 35th FW, PACAF, Misawa AB, Japan, to Dep. Dir., Info. Ops., Pentagon. III and Capt. Jeffrey K. Fahnlander. The aircraft was assigned to the SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE CHANGES: Lawrence B. Henry Jr., to Dep. Administra- 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain tive Asst., Office of the Administrative Asst., Pentagon ... Patricia Kirk–McAlpine, to Dir., Home. The officers were on a night Contracting, SMC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. flying training mission at the time.

16 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 A safety board is investigating the accident. Trouble Time in the Tank

Lax Accounting Costs DoD The fall of 1998 was not an easy time for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powerful Loose accounting controls are members of Congress all but accused the top uniformed officials of the US military costing the Pentagon millions in fraud of lying to them about the state of armed forces readiness earlier this year. Mean- and theft, Sen. Charles E. Grassley while, reports that the service chiefs were not in the loop when it came to picking (R–Iowa) said Sept. 27. potential strike targets in Afghanistan and Sudan raised painful memories of the “It’s a story about the complete and White House–directed bombing campaigns of the Vietnam War. utter breakdown of financial controls The furor over US readiness centered on the relatively upbeat reports the chiefs gave to Congress in testimony earlier this year. At that time, JCS Chairman Army within the Department of Defense,” Gen. Hugh Shelton said, “We are fundamentally healthy.” Gen. Michael E. Ryan, said Grassley. head of the Air Force, told a Senate panel that “we think we have the right balance” Releasing a series of General between readiness, modernization, and operations spending. The other chiefs gave Accounting Office studies on the similar assessments. subject, Grassley highlighted a case This fall, only a few months later, the chiefs were telling a different story. After a in which a low-level accountant at summit with Administration officials to lay out readiness concerns, Shelton spoke an Air Force base in Texas set up a for all of them when he testified that “our forces are showing increasing signs of dummy company, forged vouchers and serious wear.” certifications, and stole $2 million. Several senators complained that the chiefs must have known that readiness was a problem in the spring, and that by waiting to announce that fact they had made it Neighbors noticed his lavish lifestyle impossible to fix it within the normal budget process. and turned him in. “This is an almost Orwellian experience for me,” said Sen. John McCain (R–Ariz.), Solutions, said Grassley, might a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a leader of the critical include revising vendor payment sys- lawmaker group. “Last February ... you came before this committee and gave a tem access levels and reducing the dramatically different view of readiness and the requirements that the military needs number of employees with access to to maintain our capabilities.” the vendor payment system. The nation’s military leaders, for their part, denied that they had kept quiet about developing problems. Readiness trend lines worsened considerably during 1998, News Notes said JCS chief Shelton. He said that the fundamental conclusion presented earlier in the year—that the military remains fully capable of executing the national military On Oct. 1 the Confederate Air strategy—still stands. Force inducted the second set of hon- “With an acceptable risk,” added Shelton, “the risk having gone up.” orees for the new American Combat With respect to Afghanistan and Sudan, the service chiefs appeared to have been Airman Hall of Fame. Inductees were deprived of any substantial role, informal or otherwise, in the choice of possible Maj. Gen. John R. Alison, USAF (Ret.); bombing targets or the weapons and tactics to be used in the attacks, according Col. Rex T. Barber, USAF (Ret.); Brig. to news reports. Gen. Robert E. Galer, USMC (Ret.); Traditionally, top defense officials would present a range of target options for the Maj. Jack Ilfrey, USAAF; Col. Walker White House to choose from, but this procedure has been circumvented. Pentagon “Bud” Mahurin, USAF (Ret.); Col. officials complain that this has led to some poor decisions, such as mismatches between the type of warheads assigned to some targets and the type of blast nec- Robert K. Morgan, AFRES (Ret.); essary to destroy them. and Torpedo Squadron Eight Crew On this issue, former naval aviator McCain weighed in on the side of the uniformed of TBF Avenger BuNo 00380. Unit military. “If it’s true, it’s very disturbing,” he said. recognition went to the American Volunteer Group. NASA turned 40 this year. Con- gress and President Dwight D. Eisen­ hower established the National Aero- nautics and Space Administration War response to Soviet spaceflight Agriculture Wildlife Services began on Oct. 1, 1958, largely as a Cold pro­gress. efforts to move a roost of more than Vance AFB, Okla., recently played 100,000 blackbirds which threaten host to an Air Force first when the flying operations safety at the Mis- 71st Flying Training Wing became the souri installation. The effort uses service’s first wing to lease comput- various nonlethal harassment ef- Pay Up, He Explained ers. The leased equipment, which forts, such as propane cannons, includes laptops, servers, printers, pyrotechnics, sirens, horns, and Defense Secretary William S. Co- hen delivered the following statement and software, will provide greater distress-call tapes. to reporters on Oct. 30, 1998, shortly standardization and more power than The Defense Courier Service, before he embarked on a week-long equipment purchased piecemeal, which delivers highly classified mate- tour of Asian nations. said officials. rial under physical escort, was reas- Nominee Richard Danzig was signed to Air Mobility Command on “We believe nonetheless that, in scheduled to take over as Secretary Sept. 30. DCS had been under the spite of these [economic and finan- of the Navy from John H. Dalton at a wing of US Transportation Command cial] problems, Japan and South Nov. 16 ceremony. since 1994. Korea are still committed to providing the kind of support that is necessary A congressional cut of $25 million The Congressional Budget Of- to make sure that their forces are fully from the Airborne Laser’s requested fice recommended canceling the capable of defending themselves. budget of $292 million will result in Dark­Star stealthy Unmanned Aerial ... We also have to remind these delays of six months to a year in some Vehicles and investing more money countries, South Korea and Japan, parts of the weapon’s development, in Global Hawk long-range UAVs in a that we still fully expect host-nation Col. Michael W. Booen, program di- report released during the first week support, even given the tough times rector, said Oct. 1. of October. that they have.” On Oct. 5, Whiteman AFB per- Firebee drones, outfitted with sen- sonnel and the US Department of sors and other equipment already in

AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998 17 Aerospace World

Wil­liam S. Cohen in a letter to Con- gress this fall. Seven such planes were added to the budget this year, over DoD objections, at a cost of some $400 million.

Obituaries Secretary of USAF photo by SSgt. JasonTudor Clark M. Clifford, Defense at height of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, died Oct. 10 at his Bethesda, Md., home. He was 91. Born in Kansas and educated in St. Louis, the smooth power lawyer virtually defined the role of Washington insider for more than four decades. He began his long association with power as a young White House naval aide in 1944. He became a speechwriter and later special counsel for President Harry S. Truman and helped articulate the In Top Dollar ’98 competition to determine the best comptroller and contracting team Truman Doctrine of resistance to in USAF, SSgt. Ronald Martinez and MSGt. Errol Stewart drag TSgt. Marie Mohammad communist expansion in Greece and on a litter through an Army Ranger obstacle course. An Air Education and Training Command team won first place in the four-day competition. Turkey. He later served as personal lawyer to President John F. Kennedy, defense chief to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and trusted advisor to the Air Force inventory, could be an acting Air Force Secretary F. Whitten President Jimmy Carter. effective in-theater defense against Peters’ job title. “Mr. President, our He said he was proudest of his attacks by cruise missiles, accord- Air Force needs a leader. In acting efforts to extricate the US from Viet- ing a study done for the Pentagon’s Secretary Peters they already have nam when he ran DoD after Robert Defense Advanced Research Proj- a good one. We respectfully request S. McNamara’s departure in late ects Agency. you nominate him quickly to serve 1968 and until Johnson left office The May 13 crash of an F-16C as Secretary of the Air Force,” said in early 1969. from the 185th Fighter Wing (ANG), the letter. Retired Col. Glenn E. Duncan, a Sioux City MAP, Iowa, was caused Due to declining costs, the cash World War II Army Air Forces ace, when five American White Pelicans clothing replacement allowance used died in Niceville, Fla., July 14. struck the aircraft, according to a by enlisted personnel to defray uni- During World War II, Duncan served newly released accident report. The form expenses has been lowered. as commander of 353d Fighter Group, plane’s pilot, Lt. Col. David E. Lund­ The basic allowance (for members based in Britain. He is credited with quist, ejected safely but sustained with three years of service or less) 19.5 kills of airborne German aircraft major injuries from the impact of is now $187.20 annually for men and and destruction of nine planes on the the birds. $212.40 for women. ground. Shot down over Germany Two F-4Fs from Holloman AFB, The US military does not need during a low-level attack, he made N.M., collided in midair while on a all the C-130s that Congress forces it to Holland and safety without be- training mission Oct. 14. Aircrew it to buy, said Secretary of Defense ing captured. ■ from one aircraft ejected safely. The other aircraft landed safely at Holloman. On Oct. 19, the Supreme Court declined to hear arguments against Index to Advertisers the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on homosexuals. It was the fourth Air Time...... Insert time the nation’s highest court has AT&T...... 15 rejected such a request. Bell Helicopter...... 48 The Air Force has determined Boeing...... Cover IV that several 55th Wing support func- Chase Durer...... Cover III tions at Offutt AFB, Neb., qualify for L–3 Communications...... 27 conversion to all-civilian workforces. Motorola...... 41 The wing is studying 1,609 positions PC Express...... 87 in civil engineering, transportation, Pratt & Whitney...... 3 and supply, among other work cen- Teledyne Brown...... Cover II ters, with a conversion goal of early AEF’s 50th Anniversary Art Collection...... 36 2001. AFA Long Term Care...... 77 On Sept. 29, 30 House members AFA Specialty Items...... 87 sent President Clinton a letter urg- Industrial Associates...... 78 ing him to remove the “acting” from Video on the History of USAF...... 85

18 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 1998