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Love the Badges always ask, “Where’s your badge?” This on the ground negotiating the protocols I enjoyed your recent photo collage was usually followed by some kind of a that established the recovery efforts highlighting New England’s Air National red-faced response. that would follow. Once back at the Guard units. There’s nothing like photos I never met anyone trying to make a airfield, Jones noticed that dozens of of our Air Force in action to get you statement in regard to either their career locals had gathered along both sides pumped up [“On Guard in New England,” field or the Air Force by not donning their of the runway to watch the C-17 de- May, p. 126]! badge. It usually came down to lack of part. He asked the aircraft commander I was disappointed that [the photo attention to detail or situation awareness. what the chances were for a maximum essay didn’t show] occupational badges. You got your badge the hard way: performance takeoff. The captain was Occupational badges have been You earned it! Now wear it proudly for more than happy to reply that such around since before the Air Force with all to see! was very possible. The C-17 roared many coming over when they emerged Col. Bill Malec, down the runway. It gave them a view from under the Army in 1947. Those were USAF (Ret.) of American airpower that they had predominantly for pilots and navigators O’Fallon, Ill. never seen before nor likely will ever but aerial gunners, bombardiers, flight see again. mechanics, and turret specialists also C-17 Angels of Mercy Unfortunately, even though the MIA had badges. I noticed in the “In Brief” section on the recovery program in North Korea was Other occupational badges were later C-17 that there was no mention about a success, George Bush and Condo- introduced in piecemeal fashion. Air the Globemaster III’s ability to perform leezza Rice terminated it when that Force functionals would act unilater- the aeromedical evacuation mission Administration came into office. Today, ally, designing and then advocating for [“Airpower Classics: C-17,” May, p. 152]. those listed as MIA in North Korea will badge approval through the Air Force Each C-17 has three litter stanchions remain there forever. Uniform Board. that are integral to the aircraft and can Maj. Vern J. Pall, In the early 1990s Air Force Chief carry nine patients. With the addition USAF (Ret.) of Staff Gen. Merrill McPeak opened of the patient pallet, the C-17 can carry Tucson, Ariz. the badge flood gates. He directed that 36 litter patients. Also in the event of every Air Force career field would have contingency operations, 48 patients Heavy Convention an occupational badge for wear. can be floor loaded on the main cargo Sam McGowan’s interesting article When I was assigned to a majcom compartment with an addition 12 more “Herculean Ordnance” (April, p. 58) on headquarters I frequently visited bases on the ramp. I was fortunate enough to the C-130s dropping BLU-82s raises with inspection teams. Whenever I be a small part of the team of Reservists the question of why no heavy conven- encountered a badge-less airman I’d with the 315th AES at Charleston Air tional ordnance had been developed Force Base that was the initial cadre that for US bombers despite lessons from developed the AE mission on the C-17. both World War II and Korea that our Do you have a comment about a Col. John M. Starzyk, bombs were too light to be effective current article in the magazine? USAF (Ret.) against many targets. I think much Write to “Letters,” Air Force Mag­ Summerville, S.C. of the problem can be traced to the a­­­­­zine, 1501 Lee Highway, Ar- leaders of Strategic Air Command lington, VA 22209-1198. (Email: It would be hard to beat your “whale and their focus on nuclear weapons [email protected].) Letters should of a tale” about the C-17 experiencing a despite the fact that we continued to be concise and timely. We cannot collapsed landing gear while delivering fight non-nuclear wars. Even as late acknowledge receipt of letters. a whale to Iceland. But I will offer that as 1990 when I proposed the develop- We reserve the right to condense DOD used a C-17 to transport its first ment of 38,000-pound conventional letters. Letters without name MIA recovery team to Pyongyang dur- bombs for the B-2, I was told by an and city/base and state are not ing the Clinton Administration. Led by Air Force Magazine editor that to his acceptable. Photographs can­­not retired Army Major Bob Jones, deputy knowledge there was no program and be used or returned.—the editors assistant secretary of defense for POW/ no Air Force interest in such a bomb. MIA affairs, the team spent eight hours Thankfully, the lesson on the need for

6 AIR FORCE Magazine / July 2016 heavy conventional ordnance for US stands. One of the early Ryan recon- bombers has finally been learned and naissance drones is also displayed by we now have the GBU-43B. I hope to- the U-2. This section of the museum morrow’s Air Force leaders will always houses a number of American military be students of our past experiences to items, including several Air Force planes Air Force Association ensure that we don’t forget any more that they either shot down or had been 1501 Lee Highway • Arlington, VA 22209-1198 key lessons. captured over the years. Telephone: (703) 247-5800 Lt. Col. Price T. Bingham, Maj. Gen. Pat Halloran, Toll-free: (800) 727-3337 USAF (Ret.) USAF (Ret.) Fax: (703) 247-5853 Melbourne, Fla. Colorado Springs, Colo. Website: www.afa.org

Shot Down Email Addresses Interesting story and pictures in the Index to Advertisers May issue of Air Force Magazine on Events...... [email protected] the Black Cat U-2 losses over China Field Services ...... fi [email protected] [“Flashback: Dragon Ladies Down,” Boeing...... Cover II, 9 May, p. 148]. I spent nine years fl ying Bose...... 11 Government Relations ...... [email protected] Bradford Exchange...... 87 the U-2 and was one of the instructors Gulfstream...... 3 Industry Relations ...... [email protected] who helped check out the Taiwanese Metlife...... 37 Insurance...... [email protected] pilots back at Laughlin Air Force Base Nissan...... Cover III in the early ’60s. I was always curious USAA...... Cover IV Member Benefi ts...... [email protected] Membership ...... [email protected] about their losses and, while on a trip to AFA 70th Anniversary...... 35 China, I visited the magnifi cent military AFA Air, Space, & Cyber Conference...... 31 Communications (news media)...... museum in Beijing. By carefully watch- AFA Hangar Store...... 84 ...... [email protected] ing the roving guards I was able to get AFA Member Benefi ts...... 43 CyberPatriot...... [email protected] some pictures of the same plane that is AFA Monthly Giving ...... 81 Budget Rental Cars ...... 63 Air Force Memorial Foundation...... in your article. It was really a mess, and Promotive...... 63 ...... [email protected] the wings were held in place by metal Corporate Membership...... 5 Magazine Advertising ...... [email protected] Senior Staff Changes Editorial Offi ces ...... [email protected] Letters to Editor Column...... [email protected]

RETIREMENTS: Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, Brig. Gen. Kory Cornum, Lt. Gen. John W. Wingman...... [email protected] Hesterman III, Lt. Gen. James “JJ” Jackson, Maj. Gen. Paul T. “PJ” Johnson, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Masiello, Maj. Gen. Craig S. Olson, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. Change of Address/Email

NOMINATIONS: To Be General: Tod D. Wolters. In an effort to stay connected with AFA and your local chapter, please remember To Be Lieutenant General: Jeffrey L. Harrigian, Stayce D. Harris. to update your mailing address and email To Be Brigadier General: Sean M. Farrell, Timothy D. Haugh, William G. Holt II. address. Change of address requires four weeks’ CHANGES: Maj. Gen. Christopher J. Bence, from Vice Cmdr., 3rd AF, Ramstein AB, Ger- notice. Please mail your magazine label many, to Cmdr., USAF Expeditionary Center, AMC, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. … Brig. and fi rst and last name to the Membership Gen. Kathleen A. Cook, from, Dir., Public Affairs, OSAF, Pentagon, to Dir., Svcs., DCS, Department at 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Manpower, Personnel, & Svcs., USAF, Pentagon … Brig. Gen. (sel.) Kenneth P. Ekman, from DCS, NORAD, NORTHCOM, Peterson AFB, Colo., to Dep. Chief, Supt./Security Agree- You may also update your contact informa- tion under the Members Only area of our ment, Offi ce of the Defense Representative-Pakistan (ODR-P), CENTCOM, US Embassy, website at www.afa.org, by calling our Islamabad, Pakistan … Brig. Gen. (sel.) Sean M. Farrell, from Cmdr., 1st SOW, AFSOC, Membership Department at 1-800-727-3337, Hurlburt Field, Fla., to Dir., Strat. Plans, Prgms., & Rqmts., AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla. … Lt. or emailing [email protected]. Gen. (sel.) Jeffrey L. Harrigian, from Dir., F-35 Integration Offi ce, Offi ce of the C/S, USAF, Pentagon, to Cmdr., AFCENT, ACC, Southwest Asia … Lt. Gen. (sel.) Stayce D. Harris, AFA’s Mission from Cmdr., 22nd AF, AFRC, Dobbins ARB, Ga., to Asst. Vice C/S, USAF, Pentagon … Brig. Gen. (sel.) Timothy D. Haugh, from Cmdr., 480th ISR Wg., ACC, JB Langley-Eustis, Va., to Our mission is to promote a dominant United Dep. Cmdr., Jt. Task Force ARES, CYBERCOM, Fort George G. Meade, Md. … Brig. Gen. States Air Force and a strong national de- (sel.) William G. Holt II, from Cmdr., 352nd SOW, AFSOC, RAF Mildenhall, UK, to Dir., Ops., fense and to honor airmen and our Air Force AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla. … Maj. Gen. Mark D. Kelly, from Cmdr., 9th AF, ACC, Shaw heritage. To accomplish this, we: AFB, S.C., to Spec. Asst. to the Cmdr., ACC, JB Langley-Eustis, Va. … Brig. Gen. Cory J. Educate the public on the critical need for un- Martin, from Spec. Asst. to the Cmdr., US Forces Korea, PACOM, Yongsan, South Korea, matched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure US national to Spec. Asst. to the Vice C/S, USAF, Pentagon … Brig. Gen. Lenny J. Richoux, from Dir., security. Svcs., DCS, Manpower, Personnel, & Svcs., USAF, Pentagon, to Vice Cmdr., 18th AF, AMC, Scott AFB, Ill. … Brig. Gen. Edward W. Thomas Jr., from Cmdr., Thomas N. Barnes Center Advocate for aerospace power and STEM education. for Enlisted Education, AETC, Maxwell AFB, Ala., to Dir., Public Affairs, OSAF, Pentagon … Gen. (sel.) Tod D. Wolters, from Dir., Ops., Jt. Staff, Pentagon, to Cmdr., USAFE, Ramstein Support the Total Air Force family and pro- mote aerospace education. AB, Germany. ✪

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