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32 38 FEATURES 4 Editorial: Major Powers, Back on 46 Volcanic Observatory Top By Amy McCullough By Adam J. Hebert AFSPC and AFRL track objects in Russia eclipses the threat from ISIS. the skies from a 10,000-foot dormant volcano on Maui. 20 Bombers on Guam By Amy McCullough 50 The View From Langley The continuous bomber presence By John A. Tirpak is a visible show of USAF’s commit- The ACC commander presented un- ment to Pacific security. varnished thoughts on war and the future at a recent Air Force Associa- 26 A Prelude to War tion-sponsored event. By Rebecca Grant Twenty-five years ago this month, 54 The Year of the Kamikaze the Air Force moved to save Saudi By John T. Correll Arabia and began tense prepara- The suicide pilots were sent to die tions for the first Gulf War. for the emperor—regardless of what the emperor thought about it. 32 Fifth Gen Flight Test By John A. Tirpak 60 The Goering Interrogation The F-22 and F-35 are put through By Frederick A. Johnsen the wringer at Edwards AFB, Calif. The captured Luftwaffe head was surprisingly open when questioned by Spaatz, Vandenberg, and other 38 ISR’s Iron Triad About the cover: Maj. Luke Dellenbach By Marc V. Schanz Air Force leaders just after VE Day. pushes the throttle of a B-52. See “Bomb- USAF is reorienting its ISR invest- ers on Guam,” p. 20. USAF photo by SrA. ments, but its “big wing” fleet isn’t 64 2015-16 AFA Nominees going anywhere. Candidates for national offices and Malia Jenkins. Board of Directors. 42 The Sequestration Zombie By Megan Scully If Congress doesn’t act, sequestration comes back to life.
AIR FORCE Magazine / August 2015 1 Publisher: Mark A. Barrett Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert
Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Special Content Director: Michael C. Sirak Editorial Director: John A. Tirpak News Editor: Amy McCullough Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz Senior Designer: Heather Lewis 8 10 Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo Designer: Kristina Parrill Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney Associate Editors: Aaron M. U. Church, June L. Kim Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood
Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, John T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, Rebecca Grant, Frederick A. 12 76 Johnsen, Megan Scully
DEPARTMENTS Advertising: Scott Hill, James G. Elliott Co., Inc. (312) 348-1206 6 Letters 19 Index to Advertisers [email protected] 8 Action in Congress 55 Flashback: Scramble 1501 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22209-1198 9 Verbatim 69 AFA National Report Tel: (703) 247-5800 10 Aperture: Long-Range Strike Telefax: (703) 247-5855 Bomber contract to be awarded; 73 Reunions Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s edge; [email protected] Northrop Grumman’s advantage .... 75 Books
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AIR FORCE Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) August 2015 (Vol. 98, No. 8) is published monthly by the Air Force As- sociation, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Read the Daily Report: www.airforcemag.com Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Membership Rate: $45 per year; $30 e-Membership; $110 for three-year Follow us on: membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage www.facebook.com/airforcemag to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $10 each. www.twitter.com/airforcemag USAF Almanac issue $20 each. Change of address www.fl ickr.com/photos/133046603@N02 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 2015 by Air Force Association.
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©2014 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. 1402-0434 L0314365494[exp0515][All States] PEANUTS © 2014 Peanuts Worldwide LLC Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief Major Powers, Back on Top
he United States military has spent It went to war against neighboring ISIS is still not universally accepted. It Tthe past 15 years concentrating on Georgia, is believed to have orches- was therefore asserted at the confirma- primarily low-intensity wars in Iraq and trated major cyber assaults against tion hearings for the nation’s top two Afghanistan. Over the past year, much of NATO member Estonia, and continues military posts. the nation’s attention has been focused its conflict in Ukraine. It is in this context that Marine Corps on the threat from the ISIS international And it is not just Russia behaving Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., at his terror organization. badly. nomination hearing to become the next At the national level, threats from Communist China has aggressively Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, major powers such as Russia and China violated numerous international norms made news when he called Russia the were frequently afterthoughts. ISIS is in recent years. It is North Korea’s sole greatest threat to the United States. almost certainly not the greatest threat significant benefactor. It has thousands ISIS ranked fourth, also behind China to the United States, however. of missiles aimed at Taiwan. In 2013 and North Korea. Yes, ISIS must be watched, guarded Dunford noted Russia is a nuclear against, and attacked militarily as ap- Russia eclipses the power with the ability to destroy the US. propriate. But the organization does threat from ISIS. It has attacked its neighbors, and “if you not and has not represented the No. 1 look at their behavior, it’s nothing short danger to the United States. More dan- it unilaterally declared an air defense of alarming,” he said July 9. gerous are major powers that behave identification zone in international air- Less than a week later, Air Force aggressively, intimidate or attack their space, where it expects other nations to Gen. Paul J. Selva had his turn before neighbors, violate international norms, submit flight plans and follow Chinese the Senate Armed Services Committee, and in one case has the ability to destroy instructions. seeking confirmation as the next Joint the United States. China also continues to seek interna- Chiefs vice chairman. Thankfully, America’s recent fixation tional territory. “Its claims to nearly the Selva struck a similar note. Terror- on “today’s wars” is coming to an end entire South China Sea are inconsistent ist groups are “a threat we must deal and some long-held assumptions are with international law,” the strategy with,” he said, but they do not threaten being discarded as policy-makers come states. China continues “with aggressive the US homeland to the same degree to terms with the facts. Russia is not a land reclamation efforts” that will allow as nation-states. “Russia possesses peaceful democracy, China’s prosperity it to build air bases and shipyards in the conventional and nuclear capabil- is not leading to responsible international contested or international waters. ity to be an existential threat to this relations, violent Islamic fundamentalism Iran creates its own set of problems. nation, should they choose to do so,” has enduring appeal in Iran, and North “It is pursuing nuclear and missile de- he noted. Korea shores up its regime by creating livery technologies,” the strategy reads, ISIS, on the other hand, “does not conflict. and “is a state sponsor of terrorism that present a clear and present threat to Russia in particular is back at the top has undermined stability in many na- our homeland and to the existence of of the threat list. tions.” Iran exports terrorism to Iraq and our nation.” In late June, Air Force Secretary Syria, seeks the destruction of Israel, Selva’s list of threats to the US was Deborah Lee James said at the Paris Air and is believed to be seeking nuclear similar but not identical to Dunford’s— Show that Russia’s recent actions are weapons. and ran from Russia to China, Iran, and a “big part of why I’m here in Europe.” And don’t forget North Korea, where North Korea. The “biggest threat on my mind is “pursuit of nuclear weapons and bal- This seemed to surprise lawmakers what’s happening with Russia and the listic missile technologies … directly on both sides of the aisle, who must activities of Russia,” she said, describing threaten[s] its neighbors, especially the not have been paying attention to the the situation in Ukraine as “extreme- Republic of Korea and Japan. In time, new National Military Strategy or during ly worrisome.” Russia illegally seized they will threaten the US homeland,” Dunford’s hearing. Crimea and has subsequently waged a the strategy reads. “North Korea also If a threat is defined simply as po- surreptitious war in an attempt to split the has conducted cyber attacks, includ- tential devastation multiplied by its country to Russia’s advantage. ing causing major damage to a US likelihood, then it is hard to quibble The Pentagon subsequently released corporation.” with these rankings. Russia is not just a new National Military Strategy July 2. It Despite these nations’ enormous a proven aggressor, it has the means brought great-power conflict back to the capability to harm the United States, to destroy its enemies. front and center of US military planning. many in Washington still view ISIS as Of course ISIS must be taken seri- Russia “has repeatedly demonstrated the greater threat, either out of habit, ously and dealt with, but it is time for that it does not respect the sovereignty of because the media keeps it front and the US to refocus attention on the its neighbors and it is willing to use force center, or because the US is currently larger problem actors. Recent steps to achieve its goals,” reads the new Na- engaged in a shooting war with the to bolster the US military presence tional Military Strategy. “Russia’s military group. and readiness in Eastern Europe and actions are undermining regional security The notion that Russia is actually a throughout the Pacific are steps in the directly and through proxy forces.” greater threat to the United States than right direction. %
4 August 2015 Letters [email protected] Air Force Association 1501 Lee Highway • Arlington, VA 22209-1198 Telephone: (703) 247-5800 Toll-free: (800) 727-3337 If you know your party’s extension enter it or: Press 1 to enter their last name. Press 2 for Membership. Press 3 for the Air Force Memorial Foundation Or, stay on the line for the operator Fax: (703) 247-5853 Is Treason So Wrong? ing that every elementary and high Internet: http://www.afa.org/ In “Verbatim,” Air Force Magazine, school course be an advanced place- June 2015, Michael J. Morrell, former ment course. Unfortunately, the Skunk deputy director of CIA, was cited from Works approach isn’t for everyone, Email Addresses his book, The Great War of Our Time: as admirable as it is. In addition to The CIA’s Fight Against Terrorism From the monumental organizational is- Events...... [email protected] al Qaeda to ISIS, stating that leaks by sues to overcome, there are also the Field Services ...... fi [email protected] Edward Snowden resulted in terrorists likely objections from those that would Government Relations ...... [email protected] modifying their actions, drying up their demand “appropriate” representation communications sources, and changing for all genders, ethnicities, and life Industry Relations ...... [email protected] their tactics and that Snowden’s actions styles. Our high school track coach Insurance...... [email protected] clearly played a role in the rise of ISIS told us that when we performed our [“Get the Noose,” p. 10]. running broad jumps, we should try Member Benefi ts...... [email protected] Snowden’s self-righteous action is now to jump over the trees on the horizon. Membership ...... [email protected] seen as a weakness in the security of Of course, it was impossible, but if it Communications (news media)...... America’s intelligence system, because helped us land just a bit further than ...... [email protected] anyone in the system or any authorized we would have otherwise, it was still user of intelligence could use the same a useful objective. CyberPatriot...... [email protected] whistle-blower excuse that Snowden Hank Caruso Air Force Memorial Foundation...... used. America’s allies, coalition forces, California, Md. [email protected] and potential lucrative human sources have doubts that America’s intelligence The picture of the “A-12s—secret CIA Magazine procedures are secure and reliable. spyplanes,” June 2015, p. 30, is not of Advertising ...... [email protected] Having said that, I am concerned that three CIA A-12s. The airplanes in the a court of law in the US may not fi nd picture have a second crew compart- AFA National Report...... [email protected] Snowden guilty beyond any reasonable ment and the A-12 was a single-seat Editorial Offi ces ...... [email protected] doubt, because it could be diffi cult to aircraft. My guess would be that it is Letters to Editor Column...... [email protected] convince everyone in a jury that Snowden a picture taken for a historical record did wrong. of the initial production of the YF-12A Lt. Col. Russel A. Noguchi, fighter interceptors. During the con- Change of Address USAF (Ret.) struction of the A-12s, production was Requires four weeks’ notice. Please mail your Pearl City, Hawaii changed on the seventh, eighth, and magazine label and fi rst and last name to the ninth models to add a second crew Membership Department at 1501 Lee High- Eglin Schools, Too position and several other modifica- way, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. You may also The June 2015 Air Force Magazine tions to make the change to the Air update this information under the Members [“Air Force World: Lightning’s Day Out,” Force YF-12A. After the three vari- Only area of our website at www.afa.org, by p. 18] states that Luke AFB, Ariz., was ants, the assembly line went back to calling our Membership Department at 1-800- “home to the F-35A schoolhouse.” This produce nine more of the single seat 727-3337, or emailing [email protected]. seems to say this is the only school- A-12 aircraft for a total of 15. Six of AFA’s Mission house and that’s simply not true. The those 15 crashed. It is also possible fi rst one—and still going—is the one at Our mission is to promote a dominant United Eglin’s 33rd FW. Maybe it should have Do you have a comment about a States Air Force and a strong national defense and to honor airmen and our Air Force heri- said one of two F-35 schoolhouses, or current article in the magazine? tage. To accomplish this, we: home to an F-35 schoolhouse. Write to “Letters,” Air Force Mag- Col. Al Haberbusch, a zine, 1501 Lee Highway, Ar- Educate the public on the critical need for USAF (Ret.) lington, VA 22209-1198. (Email: unmatched aerospace power and a techni- Niceville Fla. [email protected].) Letters should cally superior workforce to ensure US national be concise and timely. We cannot security. No Lake Wobegon acknowledge receipt of letters. Advocate for aerospace power and STEM Regarding “Secret Solutions From the We reserve the right to condense education. letters. Letters without name and Desert” in the June 2015 issue [p. 28]: Support the Total Air Force family and promote Asking that every government acqui- city/base and state are not accept- aerospace education. sition be modeled after the Lockheed able. Photographs can not be used Martin Skunk Works is like mandat- or returned.—THE EDITORS
AIR FORCE Magazine / August 2015 5 e e t t t t t 1s t s s g t u s s t t t u t t t t t g s g t t t s t s t g t su t t t t t t g s st u ut u s s t [June, p. 64] 1 0 52 5 5 s su A t A A s ss u t g u t 1 s ss tt g 1 0 s ss g su t g t ss 15 t t g t ining in e t t t A g t g t A s s u 10 1 s g t s su s u t t t s t st gu s g as Det. 1, 56th SOW, identified by the 1 0 g t t st ss t ss t meritorious flight for that year. Named s u [“Heroism From the Hip,” s t s u t t t June, p. 52]. ut u t s s s g t t 2 t t s A 11 52 5 2 stu g u st s u t t s t A s s s st t u s g t u s uss t s s u s 25 1 1 utst g g u A g st s t A t s 010 u g t t u t ss s u st g t t s s The final sortie performed by this detach t As u t t t t t 2 1 0 s s st s t t t all three aircraft were flown by Det. 1, s uss 1 s A 5 t s t t s t g ss us t t s t t u t t u t g uss 1 0 t g s t t A t t t u 2015 g u s t t s u t t As s t s t st g t t u s s t s t g g A g s t s that the office facilities and vehicles t s t t t t t t u t t s t t 1 t A 1 0 1 0 s t 5 s g t u 1 0 t t A 1 0A gu s 1 1 2 ut s u t gg ss t t A 11 t g s s g t u t t g g s ts t t s g t t t 1 t t A 1 0A s gg g u t t t t 2 0 t A us t ss s g t s ss g t s t 1 5 t us g t t tu s s t s 11 t t g s t s t A 1 0A A 1 0 t a inge e e u t ug t t g t t s t s g s t u st t t t t t s u g t
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