The Air Force awards the Air Force Cross posthumously to TSgt. John Chapman. During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, TSgt John Chapman, a combat controller, charged a frontal gun emplacement, killing several of the enemy, in an effort to rescue a fallen comrade. Ultimately, his actions on March 4, 2002, saved the lives of his entire special operations team.
The Air Force conducted its first successful test of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, on May 14, snapping a streak of three consecutive failed tests and giving the beleaguered hypersonics program a much needed boost. Off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A ARRW separated from the wing…