Latest news with #U.S.AirForces
a day ago
- General
D-Day veterans return to Normandy to mark 81st anniversary
OMAHA BEACH, France -- Veterans were gathering Friday on the beaches of Normandy to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings — a pivotal moment of World War II that eventually led to the collapse of Adolf Hitler's regime. Tens of thousands of onlookers are expected to attend the commemorations, which include parachute jumps, remembrance ceremonies, parades, and historical re-enactments. Many will be there to cheer the ever-dwindling number of surviving veterans in their late 90s and older. All will remember the thousands who died. The June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France used the largest-ever armada of ships, troops, planes and vehicles to breach Hitler's defenses in western Europe. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded. The battle — and especially Allied bombings of French villages and cities — killed around 20,000 French civilians. The exact German casualties are unknown, but historians estimate between 4,000 and 9,000 men were killed, wounded or missing during the D-Day invasion alone. 'The heroism, honor and sacrifice of the Allied forces on D-Day will always resonate with the U.S. Armed Forces and our Allies and partners across Europe,' said Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. 'So let us remember those who flew and fell. "Let us honor those who survived and came home to build a better world. And let us ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain by meeting today's challenges with the same resolve, the same clarity of purpose, and the same commitment to freedom.' Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed on D-Day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with Gen. Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces. More than 2 million Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots, medics and other people from a dozen countries were involved in the overall Operation Overlord, the battle to wrest western France from Nazi control that started on D-Day.
Ya Biladi
13-05-2025
- General
- Ya Biladi
U.S. Airmen join African Lion 2025 for military exercises in Benguerir and Kenitra
U.S. Airmen have deployed to Morocco for the 21st edition of African Lion 2025, which kicked off Monday in Agadir and will run through May 23. In coordination with the Royal Moroccan Air Force and allied nations, the exercise includes joint training in air-to-air refueling, close air support, and aeromedical evacuation. According to a press release from U.S. Air Forces in Europe, more than 100 U.S. Airmen from units in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Germany are participating alongside their Moroccan counterparts. KC-135 aircraft from Ohio's 121st Air Refueling Wing will operate out of Benguerir Air Base, conducting refueling missions with Moroccan F-16s. Medevac training, led by Moroccan forces, will take place at Kenitra Air Base. «African Lion pushes us to our limits, ensuring readiness for real-world operations alongside allies and partners», said Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Africa, highlighting the exercise's importance. African Lion is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual exercise, bringing together 50 nations and 10,000 U.S. troops across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The Moroccan segment officially launched Monday with an opening ceremony at the headquarters of the Southern Zone Command in Agadir.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Air Force kicks off exercise named [checks notes] ‘Turbo Weasel'
Coming right after the epically named all-caps VIKING NEBULA bomber mission earlier this month, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa recently began another exercise named — wait for it — Turbo Weasel. To some people, 'Turbo Weasel' may sound like a character in the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' video game that your parents played long long ago. It also harkens back to 'Operation Sleepy Weasel,' the name of the top secret mission in the first 'Hot Shots' movie, which remains one of the best pre-Global War on Terrorism films about the U.S. military. In reality, the name underscores the 'speed and mission focus' of the 480th Fighter Squadron out of Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, which is tasked with suppressing enemy air defenses, according to Senior Master Sgt Jarad Denton, a spokesman for the 52nd Fighter Wing. ''Turbo' refers to the rapid generation and deployment of F-16s — demonstrating our ability to launch combat power quickly and effectively,' Denton wrote in a statement to Task & Purpose on Friday. '''Weasel' pays homage to the squadron's specialized role in the Wild Weasel mission set: the suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Together, the name signifies a high-tempo, combat-ready force uniquely skilled in neutralizing threats and enabling air superiority. Turbo Weasel has also been a foundational concept for Agile Combat Employment, setting the standard for how the Air Force projects power with speed, flexibility, and resilience.' Wild Weasel pilots are so good at 'suppression and destruction' that in 2017, while supporting an Army Ranger unit that was under attack, Lt. Col Craig Andrle dropped every single bomb from his F-16 in Afghanistan, then flew back to the airfield, hopped out, jumped into a new F-16 and dropped every bomb on that plane, too. The first iteration of this year's Turbo Weasel exercise began on Tuesday and runs until March 26, and the second is scheduled for April 8 to 17, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. Stories like this allow Task & Purpose to reflect on a truism that the U.S. military seems to have forgotten until recently: Names of military operations and exercises shouldn't be boring. The Army's successful mission to capture Saddam Hussein in December 2003, for example, was named 'Operation Red Dawn' after the legendary movie about a group of teenagers who battle a communist invasion of the United States and manage to repair a pickup truck by urinating in the radiator. It is worth noting that the military did not name the mission for an artsy war film, like 'The Thin Red Line,' because any movie that could put dead people asleep is not inspiring. But for the past decade or so, the codenames for U.S. military operations have tended to be a little, well, lame. The U.S.-led mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi Rebels in Yemen was named Prosperity Guardian, which sounds like two nouns stuck in a forced marriage. The U.S. and British air and missile strikes against Houthi Targets got the name Operation Poseidon Archer, which begs the question: Poseidon was the ancient Greek god who ruled the seas; how would he shoot arrows from underwater? While the name 'Turbo Weasel' may be slightly confusing to the layman, it's certainly far from banal, and it shows that military planners can still come up with some intriguing names when they want to. Although Russian and Chinese intelligence analysts may be trying to find some hidden meaning in Turbo Weasel's name, the real message to adversaries is the U.S. military is finally upping its game when it comes to naming operations and exercises. Your move, comrades. Arlington Cemetery website drops links for Black, Hispanic, and women veterans The Army wants to get the load soldiers carry down to 55 pounds Here are the latest military units deploying to the U.S.-Mexico border Why Washington state used M60 tanks to prevent avalanches Historic 'China Marines' battalion converts into latest Littoral Combat Team
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air Force four-star warns pilots of Chinese-backed aviation companies
The Air Force issued a stern warning to airmen last week to avoid working for private companies that maintain affiliation with foreign adversaries, according to a press release from the service. Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of NATO Allied Air Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, advised aircrew members to stay away from businesses supporting near-peer threats, especially the People's Republic of China. Hecker added that involvement in these companies could lead to harsh consequences. 'Once you fly on our team, even after you hang up your uniform, you have a responsibility to protect our tactics, techniques and procedures,' Hecker said. U.S. troops, active and retired, are regulated by the U.S. State Department when it comes to providing defense services to a foreign military. Sharing classified information with a foreign government is illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law. Punishment for violating these regulations may include fines, a dishonorable discharge and up to life imprisonment. 'The new laws passed last year are proof that allies will seek to hold individuals accountable when they compromise the safety of our teammates by pursuing employment backed by our adversaries,' Hecker added. 'We welcome these legal changes and encourage others allies to consider similar measures.' Other nations, meanwhile, have also taken legal steps toward preventing contributions to efforts out of Beijing. Deterring China, slashing waste top Pentagon priorities, Hegseth says A January 2025 law passed in Germany increased the severity of punishment for German-trained service members who provide service to companies that support foreign militaries. Similar laws were passed in the United Kingdom and Belgium in 2023 and 2024, respectively. A 2024 release from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence notified airmen that China's People's Liberation Army was making a concerted effort to recruit current and former NATO military personnel through private companies in an attempt to train PLA Air Force and Navy aviators. U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa listed several companies involved in recruitment efforts, including Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Beijing China Aviation Technology Co. and Stratos. 'The insight the PLA gains from Western military talent threatens the safety of the targeted recruits, their fellow service members and U.S. and allied security,' said Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The release instructs service members to submit a tip through the special investigations website if they are contacted by a company to train foreign adversaries.
