[MilCom] News Tidbits

[Rapbep at aol.com]

All,

The following items were taken from the current (Sep 2005) issue of Combat 
Aircraft Magazine:

1. The 96th ARS at Fairchild AFB WA was deactivated on March 31 2005 leaving 
the 92nd ARW with two operational sqdns.

2. Indian Springs Auxiliary Airfield was renamed Creech AFB in honor of the 
former cmdr of the Tactical Air Command , Gen Wilbur "Bill" Creech. The USAF 
will activate a fourth predator sqdn at Creech. 

3. The 27th FW's 428th FS was deactivated at Cannon AFB NM on July 6 ending a 
7 year relationaship with Singapore. Nine of their F-16s were delivered to 
Singapore and the rest of the aircraft were transferred to the 425th FS at Luke 
AFB.

4. The Army activated the 3rd Battalion, 10th Avn Regt at Ft Drum NY on June 
14. Ths general avn support  unit is comprised of three companies equipped 
with UH-60s and CH-47s.

5. In a move that followed the designation of the Army Aviation Center's 
Aviation Training Brigade as the 110th Avn Brigade, the Helicopter School 
Battalion has been numbered as the 1st Battallion, 210th Avn Regt at Cairns AAF, Ft 
Rucker AL. This unit provides helicopter training to Spanish-speaking pilots 
from Central & South America.

6. The Marine Helicopter Training Sqdn HMT-301 whic served as the Fleet 
Readiness Sqdn for the CH-53D Sea Stallion was deactivated at MCAF Kaneohe Bay HI 
on June 3.

7. The Navy's VQ-2 will move from its base in Rota Spain to NAS Whidbey 
Island WA on Sept 1, 2005. Its six EP-3E and P-3C aircraft will join those of VQ-1.

8. The first of two UC-35D Cittation Encore operational support aircraft was 
delivered to VMR-1 at MCAS Cherry Point on May 18.

9. Training Air Wing 6 (TAW-6) at NAS Pensacola marked the end of an era when 
the wing's final T-34C training flight took place. The unit T-34s are being 
replaced by T-6 Texans. 

10. The Army's 3-101st Avn (ATKHB) completed it's transition to the AH-64D at 
Ft Hood's Western Training Area on April 22. They were certified as combat 
ready and the unit returned to their home bas at Ft Campbell KY.

11. The 1-1st Avn (ATKHB) cased their colrs at Katterback Germany and 
relocated to Ft hood TX where they will transition to the AH-64. After the transition 
they will likely be based at Ft Riley KS.

12. The 4-6th Air Cav Sqdn started its move from Ft Polk LA to Ft Lewis WA on 
June 15 when 10 UH-60Ls arrvied there. 

13. The Army's only Pilatus UV-20A, operated by the Golden Knights Parachute 
Team was transferrred to the USAF's 427th Special Ops Sqdn at Pope AFB NC. 

14. VR-57 at NAS North Island CA said goodbye to their last C-9 on May 6. The 
unit is transitioning to the C-40 Clipper. In August the unit will start 
operating with C-40s borrowed from VR-58 & VR-59 and will start receiving their 
own new C-40s in October.

RON
MARYLAND, USA