Air Mobility Command officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing at Charleston AFB, S.C., during a Jan. 8 ceremony. The new wing will be the host unit for JB Charleston that stands up at the end of the month. The joint installation will combine Charleston Air Force Base and the nearby Naval Weapons Station Charleston under one infrastructure roof as mandated by BRAC 2005. The 628th ABW replaces AMC’s 437th Airlift Wing in the host role at Charleston. The 437th AW will continue its airlift mission, but its groups that performed base support functions are now part of the 628th ABW. JB Charleston is one of 12 joint bases being established across the nation per BRAC 2005. Just last week, the 633rd ABW was activated at Langley AFB, Va.; it will oversee support activities for JB Langley. (Charleston report by SSgt. Daniel Bowles)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.