[Scan-DC] Military Tidbits

[Rapbep at aol.com]

All,

The following "tidbits" were taken from the current (May 2005) issue of 
Combat Aircraft.

1. The 338th Electronic Combat Sqdn was activated at NAS Whidbey Island WA on 
15 Dec 2004. The unit is assigned to the 366th Ops Group at Mountain Home AFB 
ID and is responsible for the USAF personnel assigned to the 
joint/expeditionary EA-6B sqdns at Whidbey.

2. The John C Stennis, CVN-74 officially changed its homeport from San Diego 
to Bremerton WA on 1 Jan 2005. The Stennis is scheduled to undego a Docking 
Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) period.

3. The John F Kennedy CV-67 will change its homeport from Mayport FL to 
Norfolk VA in May 2005.

4. The 542nd Med Coy (Air Ambulance) will relocate to Ft Campbell KY from 
Camp Page in Korea. The 542nd operates 15 UH-60A Blackhawks.

5. Closre of Camp Page Korea resulted in the 1-2nd Avn "Gunfighters' and 
their AH-64s relocating from Camp Page to Camp Eagle, Wonju Korea.

6. The 1st FW welcomed its first F-22 Raptor (# 02-4029) on loan from Tundall 
AFB FL. The 1st FW initial Raptor ( (# 03-4041) is scheduled to be delivered 
in May 2005. 

7. The USAF announced plans to upgrade 24 UH-1Hs operated by the 23rd Flying 
Training Sqdn (FTS) at Ft Rucker AL with Huey II Upgrades. 

8. The USAF has ordered three additional C-40Cs for the AFRES 932nd Airlift 
Wing/73rd Airlift Sqdn at Scott AFB IL. The 932nd currently operates C-9As.

9. The 943rd Rescue group was activated at Davis Monthan AFB AZ on 12 Feb. 
The unit is assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB FL and is 
responsible for the HH-60G equipped 305th Rescue Sqdn and the newly established 306th 
Rescue Sqdn.

10. On 1 Feb 2005 the Carl Vinson CVN-70 embarked on an around the world 
deployment which will end at Norfolk VA in about 6 months. There the Vinson will 
undergo a 3-year refueling and complex overhaul period. CVW-9 is currently 
aboard the Vinson. This marks the final cruise for the VS-33 and their S-3B 
Vikings --the unit will be deactivated upon completion of this deployment.

11. Boeing delivered the 8th C-40A airlifter to the USN Reserve on 18 Feb. 
The USN has now ordered nine C-40As.

12. The "Grim Reapers" of VF-101 concluded their last detachment to Key West 
FL on 5 Feb. At Key West the unit condcuted dissimilar air combat training.

13. The USMC's VMGR-252 and their KC-130Js have deployed to Al Asad Iraq to 
support in-theatre ops. The sqdn replaced VMGR-452 who returned with their 
KC-130Ts to Stewart ANG NY. 

14. USMC Tiltrotor Test & Evaluation Sqdn VMX-22 recently took delivery of 
the last MV-22B that will support the Ospreys upcoming OPEVAL. 

RON
MARYLAND, USA