The Air Force sent the last F-15 and F-16 fighters that were slated for retirement to the Arizona desert last week.
The retirement is part of a planned draw down of fighter aircraft that the Air Force has been working to implement for the past two years.
Some 252 fighters — A-10s, F-15s and F-16s — were retired from 21 bases around the globe.
Six A-10 attack aircraft from Moody Air Force Base, near Valdosta, were on the cut list.
The planes were flown to the aircraft “boneyard,” or the Air Force’s Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
Most were located in the U.S., but fighters based in England, Germany and Japan were also retired.
The Air Force and Navy store aircraft, primarily fighters, in the dry desert areas at Davis-Monthan to preserve them for use as spare parts. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center uses the stored parts to work on F-15s.
WR native re-enlists in Iraq
U.S. Army Pfc. Syrita Wilson, of Warner Robins, re-enlisted in the Army during a ceremony held in Iraq last week.
Wilson is a motor transport operator with the 601st Aviation Support Battalion and works fueling and arming Army aircraft at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Wilson re-enlisted for a six-year term in a ceremony with nine other soldiers. She plans to make the Army a career, according to Defense Department news release.
Veterans home to be improved
The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a grant of $409,594 to Georgia in order to improve the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville.
The money came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The money will be used to improve an emergency electrical system. Also, the home will install new elevator controls and a new fire alarm system.
The Milledgeville home has 372 beds to care for aging and indigent Georgia veterans.
Combat communications wing celebrates first birthday
The 689th Combat Communications Wing — the first of its kind in the U.S. Air Force — celebrated its first birthday Oct. 5 by going on a six-mile hike, according to a Robins Air Force Base release.
“The 689th Combat Communication Wing’s mission is to train, deploy and deliver expeditionary and specialized communications for relief and combat operations at a moment’s notice,” said Col. Amando Gavino, 689th vice commander. “The six-mile ruck march was a demonstration of the wing’s readiness and capability to accomplish the mission — anytime, anywhere, when called upon.”
The 689th’s mission is to deploy and deliver special communication, air traffic control and landing systems for combat operations and humanitarian relief missions.
Israel to buy latest U.S.-built fighter
Israel signed an agreement to purchase the F-35 strike fighter from the U.S. last week. The $2.75 billion deal will deliver 20 of the advanced air-and-ground attack jets to Israel between 2015-2017.
The F-35 is planned to replace the A-10 and F-16 in the U.S. Air Force, as well as the F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy. Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom, are among the nine allied nations participating in the $40 billion F-35 development program.
To contact writer Shelby G. Spires, call 744-4494.
