The Pentagon has challenged the US District Court ruling that would save the Air National Guard’s 111th Fighter Wing at NAS Willow Grove, Pa. (DR, 09/02/05) And, the governor is prepared to challenge that challenge. Despite the prospect of returning to court to do battle, Gov. Ed Rendell’s office tells the Philadelphia Inquirer the state and the Pentagon are still in “discussions.” There is wiggle room in the BRAC commission recommendations. The panel said OK to stripping the 111th’s of its present A-10s, but it suggested the Air Force should try to replace some of them with other A-10s.
The Air Force still needs more than 300 combat squadrons, but the biggest priority is not number of squadrons but capability, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. said Sept. 22. He also suggested the records set by the Next Generation Air Dominance prototype likely have more to do…