Blackcats Begin Pope Exodus

Feb. 21, 2007

The 41st Airlift Squadron Blackcats on Feb. 16 became the first unit to officially “leave” Pope AFB, N.C., marking in a special ceremony the realignment of the 41st AS from Pope to Little Rock AFB, Ark. The “new” 41st will stand up on April 5 at Little Rock, where it will become USAF’s first active duty C-130J squadron. The unit’s E model Hercules are on their way to the boneyard. The 41st AS, one of the service’s oldest squadrons, has operated from Pope for 36 years. Under direction of BRAC 2005, USAF will turn Pope over to the Army.

Related Content

Pentagon’s Silicon Valley Hub is Helping NORAD Monitor US Airspace

Oct. 23, 2020
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…

USAF Pushes Safer F-16 Training After Contractor’s Death

Oct. 23, 2020
The Air Force revamped its F-16 Basic Course following a 2017 incident where an inexperienced student pilot strafed the wrong target and killed a military contractor. Now, students must fly their first nighttime close air support sortie with an instructor pilot in the rear seat of a two-person F-16D. If…

Inside NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing Mission

Oct. 23, 2020
Aviano Air Base's 555th Fighter Squadron this week concluded a nearly monthlong stint supporting NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission in Bulgaria, during which Russian military aircraft didn't cross into the European nation's sovereign airspace, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa told Air Force Magazine on Oct. 23. "As we…

Dyess Airmen, B-1s in Guam for Bomber Task Force Deployment

Oct. 23, 2020
About 200 Airmen and four B-1s from Dyess Air Force Base's 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron began a Bomber Task Force deployment to Guam this week to back-up multilateral training being hosted by Pacific Air Forces, according to a PACAF release. The Texas-based troops and aircraft arrived at Andersen Air Force…

Virtual Events: Wilsbach on Mitchell’s ‘Aerospace Nation,’ and More

Oct. 22, 2020
On Oct. 27, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute will host an installment of its “Aerospace Nation” series featuring Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.

Former SECAF Sees More Opportunity for Military Reform

Oct. 22, 2020
Nearly 18 months out of office, former Air Force Secretary Heather A. Wilson indicated the service has more work to do on the reforms she championed over the course of two years. Wilson, now president of the University of Texas at El Paso, pursued multiple pet projects in the top…

Citing Wildfires, Western Senators Lobby for Nevada C-130 Upgrades

Oct. 22, 2020
Four Democratic senators are pushing the Air Force to send eight C-130J aircraft to the Nevada Air National Guard to bolster firefighting missions as the American West continues to suffer from devastating wildfires. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris of California—the…

Eielson F-35s Get Arctic Survival Kits

Oct. 22, 2020
Arctic survival kits are the newest feature on the Air Force's F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-35 was not designed to carry sleeping bags and other equipment to protect pilots if they need to eject into the brutal Arctic temperatures, which regularly dip to…

USAF Asks Airmen for Input on Women’s Hair Regulations

Oct. 22, 2020
The Air Force Women’s Initiative Team has launched a survey to get female Airmen’s feedback on whether and how USAF should change its rules for how women can wear their hair while in uniform. The Women’s Initiative Team will use the data “to educate Air Force General Officers on what…