Pacific Air Forces airmen in the Philippines to participate in an annual exercise turned instead to aid mountain villagers caught in the horrific mudslide of Feb. 17. The 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, with aircrews and C-130s deployed from Yokota AB, Japan, transported relief workers and equipment. Airmen with the 36th Contingency Response Group out of Andersen AFB, Guam, were put on 12-hour alert to be ready to open an airfield or provide other assistance.
The "Air Force One" replacement will be two to three years late due to pandemic issues, testing, and the loss of a subcontractor on the interior, USAF officials reported at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. They were also warned that some HASC members will insist on a competition for…