October 2014/$10 Depot Art and Science International Partnerships Red Flag Reboots Hostage’s Warning October 2014, Vol. 97, No. 10 FEATURES 4 Editorial: A Moment of Truth in Europe By Adam J. Hebert Putin will not stop until he is made to stop. 26 The Guard Partnerships By Amy McCullough Low-key partnership programs be- tween US states and foreign nations have paid big dividends. 32 Depot Redirection By Autumn A. Arnett The Warner Robins Air Logistics Com- plex is working to make its repair work less art and more science. 36 Speed Kills By Marc V. Schanz Future operations will require quick decisions and rapid effects. 42 Red Flag for the Future By John A. Tirpak The realistic combat training exercise must constantly evolve to replicate 26 real-world threats. 50 Hostage’s Warning By John A. Tirpak Mike Hostage laid out the Air Force’s past and future readiness problems in no uncertain terms. 54 Survival and Tragedy in Alaska By John Lowery The commander of Alaskan Command and his pilot died in a tragic fi shing trip mishap. 58 Not Just Night Witches By Reina Pennington In World War II, Soviet women were air combat pioneers. 64 The Long Retreat By John T. Correll The United States gave up on Vietnam in 1968. Getting out was harder than getting in. 70 Escaping the Continent About the cover: An F-15 undergoes By Rebecca Grant tests by mechanics and test-fl ight pilots American airmen shot down over at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, Europe had a sophisticated web of Ga. See “Depot Redirection,” p. 32. USAF supporters for attempts to avoid Nazis photo by Sue Sapp. and reach freedom. 36 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2014 1 64 www.airforcemag.com Publisher: Craig R. McKinley DEPARTMENTS Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert 6 Letters Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon 12 Aperture: Bipartisan consternation; Special Content Director: Michael C. Sirak Our own worst enemy; Don’t forget Editorial Director: John A. Tirpak the nukes; Points for realism .... News Editor: Amy McCullough 14 Verbatim Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz Senior Designer: Heather Lewis 16 Air Force World Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo 22 Index to Advertisers Designer: Kristina Parrill Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney 22 Senior Staff Changes Associate Editors: Autumn A. Arnett, Aaron M. U. Church, June L. Kim 24 Keeper: The “Iron Curtain” Speech Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov 63 Flashback: Dove of War Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood 76 AFA National Report Senior Correspondent: Otto Kreisher 79 Reunions 80 Airpower Classics: Ju 52 Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, John T. Correll, Robert S. 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Frontline Communications Partners 1880 Century Park East, Suite 1011, Los Angeles, CA 90067 &OLHQW)URQWOLQH-RE9HU$' &\DQ 0DJHQWD <HOORZ %ODFN Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief A Moment of Truth in Europe Y EARLY September, the Free World’s and take over the post office,” which of the Alliance. If the trust is broken, Bresponse to Russia’s assault on was “key to their success, because they the Alliance is gone. So if you send Ukraine appeared impotent. Economic were supposed to send a telegraph to your road circus into a NATO country, sanctions and declarations that Russia’s Moscow asking in the name of the newly just a small border area, [and] create actions were illegal did nothing to alter formed government,” for Russia to send confusion” with little green men who the status quo. Russian forces poured troops. “Sounds quite familiar, doesn’t are supposedly locals or responding to into Ukraine—cementing their hold on it?” Tarien asked. a request for help, will NATO respond? Crimea while making additional inroads Russian-speaking Estonians “are “I’m not saying Estonia is next. But in eastern Ukraine. citizens of Europe, and they want to stay I think all of us need to be on alert This troubled the allies that once that way, they don’t want to be citizens while … the bear there is staring down fell under the domination of the Soviet of Russia, but it’s irrelevant because to the West on the border, looking for a Union. Led by Vladimir Putin, Russia has Mr. Putin it doesn’t matter,” Tarien said. weakness to exploit.” repeatedly assaulted nearby nations. If Putin wants to “assist somebody, he Putin will continue attacking his This was through cyber attacks, as in neighbors, supposedly defending Estonia in 2007, which Russia blamed Russian interests, until he is made on patriots it could not control. Putin will not stop until he to stop. Ukraine may face a lengthy It was military, as in the case of the is made to stop. Russian occupation. assault on Georgia in 2008. But for those fortunate enough to And it is happening in Ukraine—where be NATO members, Article 5 “is crystal Russian forces seized Crimea and pro- is deciding who to assist, where is the clear. An attack on one is an attack on Russian “separatists” are supposedly next protest, and where … the little all,” Obama stated. “So if, in such a acting on their own in the east. green men go.” moment, you ever ask again who will Other nations along Russia’s NATO asked Putin about the come to help, you’ll know the answer: periphery were legitimately concerned “separatists” in Ukraine, “Are you sure the NATO Alliance, including the armed they could be next, so President they are not yours? I mean, they wear forces of the United States of America, Obama on Sept. 3 laid out America’s your latest issue army uniform that not right here, present, now.” commitment to the Baltic NATO states all your regular units even have yet. This is unequivocal. There can of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the Their weapons are the specs that only be no backing down from America’s clearest possible terms. “The defense your special forces and the airborne commitment to its NATO partners. of Tallinn and Riga and Vilnius is just units have. And, oh, their personal After years of assumed affinity, it as important as the defense of Berlin communication system … is the very is now clear that Putin is no friend to and Paris and London,” Obama said in newest edition that only your elite the West and Russia is no European Tallinn, the Estonian capital. special forces have. Are you sure they partner. “I think the largest changes Two weeks later, Col. Jaak Tarien, are not your guys?” Putin’s ludicrous to NATO in the history of NATO will head of the Estonian Air Force, stirringly response, Tarien said, was in essence: take effect [over] the next year-and- explained the importance of such “No, they bought it all in [a] military store. a-half to two years,” said Air Force assurances. “I know there are some Not our guys.” Gen.