From: bergman@afnews.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: AF News Notes 04/16/92
Date: 17 Apr 92 01:05:41 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.af.mil>

299. A-10 crash
        
    GRISSOM AFB, Ind. (AFNS) -- An Air Force Reserve pilot flying 
an A-10 attack jet was killed when his aircraft crashed April 11. 
Col. Marvin Evens, 57, was on a training flight when his 
aircraft crashed near Little Deer Creek, about three miles south 
of Grissom.  Evens was the flight surgeon and commander of the 
930th Medical Squadron. As flight surgeon, Evens regularly flew 
with the 45th Fighter Squadron. 
    Evens, an anesthesiologist with Community Hospitals of 
Indianapolis, joined the Reserve in 1962.
    The Air Force is investigating the crash. 
         
300.  C-17 refueling
         
    EDWARDS AFB, Calif. (AFNS) -- The C-17 transports, currently 
undergoing flight testing, successfully completed its first aerial 
refueling from a KC-135 tanker April 12.
    During its 51st mission, the C-17 took on 22,000 pounds of 
fuel.  Since its maiden flight in September, the C-17 has flown 
155.8 hours.  Construction of a second C-17 is nearly complete and 
expected to fly later this spring. 
    The C-17 is designed to meet airlift needs into the next 
century and can carry combat equipment and troops or humanitarian 
aid to locations around the world.  
    The Air Force plans to buy 120 C-17s with the first squadron 
becoming operational at Charleston AFB, S.C., by the end of 1994. 


MISSILE COMPETITION HAS FUTURE AFTER AIR FORCE RESTRUCTURING

By SSgt. David Malakoff
HQ SAC Office of Public Affairs
      Rumors that 1992 will mark the final missile combat
competition are "greatly exaggerated and need to be
squelched," according to the man responsible for SAC's
missile operations.
      "There is every indication the missile combat
competition will continue after SAC deactivates and missile
wings transfer to Air Combat Command," said Brig. Gen.
Thomas Kuenning, 20th Air Force commander.  "As long as we
have intercontinental ballistic missiles in our force, we
need something like missile competition to showcase the
professionalism and dedication of the Air Force's ICBM
force."
      Missile combat competition -- known as Olympic Arena --
takes place April 23-30 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.  It
features missile operations crews, communicators,
maintenance, civil engineers and security teams competing in
various scenarios for the honor of being named "Best in
SAC."  The competition also shows potential adversaries the
readiness of the Air Force's ICBM fleet, the general said.
      "When these potential adversaries have an understanding
of our readiness, the chances for us to be successful in
deterring nuclear war are that much greater.  That's what
the ICBM force is all about!"
      The deactivation of Strategic Air Command and the
activation of a new, joint U.S. Strategic Command --
responsible for operational control of all U.S. strategic
nuclear weapons -- has raised expectations U.S. Navy sea-
launched ballistic missile submarine forces may participate
in future Olympic Arena competitions.
      "Although the question has been asked, we really
haven't gotten that far in our relationship with the Navy,"
General Kuenning explained.  "As we continue to work with
our Navy counterparts we'll be exploring ways to build our
partnership in STRATCOM, but I think it is still premature
to say whether it will evolve into some form of
competition."
      As commander of 20th Air Force, General Kuenning is
responsible for controlling the operations of SAC's six
missile wings, directing SAC missile combat crew training,
and controlling and conducting all SAC ballistic missile
operational testing.  He said although the end of the Cold
War has had an affect on ICBM operations, it hasn't ended
the mission of the Air Force's missileers.
      "The end of the Cold War is largely a political event
as far as strategic forces are concerned at this point," he
explained.  "While the intent of the former Soviet Union has
definitely changed, their nuclear capabilities remain
virtually intact.  Therefore, we will continue to deter
anyone who can wage nuclear war against the United States."
      The end of the Cold War, combined with cuts in
America's armed forces, has led to some anxiety for folks in
the ICBM community, but it's "no more and no less the
anxiety that all Air Force people are feeling during the
downsizing of our service," General Kuenning said.
      "Because missileers believe their mission is still
important, their morale is very high.  To a degree it's even
higher," he said, "because they know they've been part of
the reasons that have allowed the political climate in the
world to change without having to engage in war."
      A big part of the change for missileers will be working
with folks in Air Combat Command who haven't previously
worked alongside ICBM operations.  General Kuenning said
SAC's missileers are very confident about being able to
compete and do well as part of ACC.
      "That confidence is the result of two things:
confidence in what we do and knowing, by the results of the
Cold War,  we do our job very well," he explained.
"Secondly, we know that excellence has a way of being
recognized, and General Loh (Gen. Michael Loh, who has been
nominated by the president to lead ACC) has publicly stated
his respect for missileers."
              Units competing in Olympic Arena `92 are the 44th
Missile Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; 321st MW, Grand Forks
AFB, N.D.; 91st MW, Minot AFB, N.D.; 351st MW, Whiteman AFB,
Mo.; 90th MW, F.E. Warren AFB, WY.; and the 341st MW,
Malmstrom AFB, Mont.  (SAC Wire Service)
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