WASPs Honored

WASPs Honored: Tuesday kicks off two days of celebration in the Washington, D.C., area in honor of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. These women flew non-combat military missions to free their male counterparts for combat. President Obama last July signed legislation into law awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. On Tuesday, there will be a wreath laying and remembrance ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., for the 38 WASPs who died in the line of duty. A reception will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz is scheduled to be at the reception and make brief remarks. On Wednesday, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and he are scheduled to attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the US Capitol building where the surviving WASPs will receive their medals. Donley will speak there, we are told. (Women's Memorial release)

3/9/2010

On the Record

Mission One
"The health and safety of our pilots—all of our pilots—is our utmost priority. Our operational flight surgeons and our medical staff interact with our pilots on a daily basis."
—Brig. Gen. Daniel Wyman, Air Combat Command command surgeon, speaking to reporters during a teleconference, May 9, 2012. He was emphasizing that the Air Force is doing all it can to ensure the safety of F-22 pilots as service officials continue to home in on the cause of why some Raptor pilots have experienced hypoxia-like symptoms in the cockpit like difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

On the Record

Message to Congress
"If you give us force structure back, give us the money, too. Because the quickest way I know to a hollow force is to give us structure without money. Simple as that. . . . 'Make it work' is not a satisfactory solution."
—Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz articulating his message to lawmakers on the Air Force's Fiscal 2013 budget proposal during a speech at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2012. The Air Force leadership has proposed reducing force structure and personnel next fiscal year in order to maintain a ready and capable force as the service absorbs significant spending cuts.