The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, set a new record in May when its A-10s and F-15Es accumulated more than 5,000 combat flight hours, an unprecedented total for one month. Aircrews flying the wing’s A-10s and F-15Es accomplished the feat in providing close air support and overhead intelligence-reconnaissance-surveillance coverage for US and coalition ground troops throughout the country. “I can’t begin to tell you how proud we are of our combined maintenance and operations team,” said Col. Dave Blanks, commander of the wing’s 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group. Blanks said 5,000 hours is about five or six times the hours flown monthly by a stateside unit, he noted. The A-10s arrived from Moody AFB, Ga., in March while the F-15Es came in just last month from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. “No matter what the challenge, our combined teams rolled up their sleeves, worked together and found a way to make things happen,” said Col. Raymond Strasburger, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander. (Bagram report by SSgt. Jason Lake)
Top lawmakers on Capitol Hill announced Dec. 2 that they have reached a deal to extend the continuing resolution funding the government into February. Now, the House and Senate will have to scramble to pass the legislation by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 3 to avoid a temporary shutdown.