Military

The Memphis Belle and the Aerial War

Dan Patterson — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:39:45 +0000

Seventy years ago this week American aviators were at war in Europe. In airplanes known as the B-17 Flying Fortress they were flying bombing missions over Germany. One of those planes, nicknamed “The Memphis Belle” flew its 25th combat mission on May 17th, 1943, and then came home to the US with its crew. One of the Memphis Belle’s first stops was Wright Field in Dayton, where today she’s being restored at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Unpaid leave for 13K at Wright-Patt Begins in July

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:35:00 +0000

About 13,000 civilian employees at Wright Patterson Air Force Base will be forced to take 11 days of unpaid leave beginning in July.

Col. Cassie Barlow, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing, made that announcement yesterday.

Each of the 13,000 civilian employees will be on one day of furlough per week beginning July 8 until they reach 11 total days. The unpaid leave is the result of automatic defense budget cuts.

Barlow says the development is "good news" because the Department of Defense's 800,000 civilian employees had originally faced 22 days of furlough.

Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit, Plane Added to Dayton Air Show

Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:13:08 +0000

The Dayton Air Show that has to make do without military participation because of federal budget cuts has added a Tuskegee Airmen exhibit and a restored World War II fighter plane.

The Dayton Air Show says a traveling custom-trailer theater with a panoramic screen will be at the June 22-23 show at Dayton International Airport. It will tell the story of the black airmen who overcame many obstacles to become the heroic "Red Tail Squadron" of World War II. They flew in P-51 Mustang planes, and the air show says one will fly at the show.

Wright-Patt Will Cut 40 Percent of Budget

Associated Press and Dayton Daily News — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:04:00 +0000

The commander of Ohio largest military installation says federal budget cuts will force a 40-percent reduction in the budget - but no jobs are expected to be lost.

Col. Cassie B. Barlow, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, says officials will have to "dig deep" to find the cuts.

The Dayton Daily News reports that the base's 13,000 civilian employees are due to receive 14-day furlough notices beginning early next week. Barlow said the unpaid time off work will begin in June.

Cuts Mean No Military Presence at Ohio Air Show

Associated Press and Dayton Daily News — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:35:00 +0000

Federal budget cuts mean there will be no military presence at the popular Dayton Air Show for the first time in the event's nearly four-decade history.

Military cuts already caused the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to pull out of the show. Now the air show says there will be no other military fighter demonstrations or displays at all.

The Dayton Daily News reports there won't even be any of the typical personnel support from nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at the June 22-23 event.

Air Show General Manager Brenda Kerfoot called it "unprecedented."