bergman@afnews.af.mil (CMSgt Mike Bergman) (06/15/91)
From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.af.mil>
358. Clark evacuation
359. Murder update
360. Medal wear criteria
361. Stealth backing
362. Travel delays
363. Money transfer
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358. Clark evacuation
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Less than one week after the last F-4s left Clark
AB, Philippines, the threat of a nearby volcanic eruption has forced the
evacuation of more than 16,000 Americans to Subic Bay Navy Base.
Steam- and ash-spewing Mount Pinatubo, a volcano located a little more
than eight miles west of Clark, caused base officials to start evacuating
people to Subic Bay at about 6 a.m. June 10, Philippines time, Pacific Air
Forces officials said.
Volcano Condition 4 was declared at 5 a.m. June 10 by Clark officials
when the potential for volcanic eruption increased. Volcano conditions range
from 1 to 5. Condition 4 indicates intense volcanic unrest and tremors, with
eruption possible within 24 hours, PACAF officials said.
Members of the Clark community, non-mission essential military people,
Department of Defense civilians and families headed southwest to Subic Bay via
private vehicles, buses and special purpose vehicles.
Some 1,500 mission-essential members, including 1,000 security police,
are staying at Clark to maintain the facilities, perform mission-essential
activities and provide security for the base and its property.
The eruption comes six days after the last squadron of F-4s of the 3rd
Tactical Fighter Wing left Clark as part of a November U.S. decision to no
longer have a permanent fighter presence in the Philippines.
Originally, 24 F-15Es were scheduled to replace the F-4Es at Clark. The
F-4Es are scheduled for retirement. Additionally, the Air Force removed its
F-4Gs from the base.
Although the permanently based fighters are gone, other units to include
PACAF's 13th Air Force headquarters, tactical training units, special
operations and other support units will remain at Clark.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The following story is an update of AFNS story No. 354
"Georgia murder."
359. Murder update
MOODY AFB, Ga. (AFNS) -- The badly decomposed body of a woman, presumed
to be the missing wife of a Moody F-16 crew chief, was found June 7, three
days after her husband was arrested for the murder of a retired Air Force
first sergeant.
The body of a woman, believed to be that of Felecia Crowder, was found
well-concealed in brush in a ditch about 60 yards from where the body of
retired MSgt. Wilton A. Marcengill's body was discovered. Both had been shot
three times.
Sgt. Donald T. Crowder was arrested on the base flightline June 4 for
aimlessly firing a .38-caliber pistol. Moody security police later turned him
over to the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department in Valdosta, Ga. He was
charged with the murder of Sergeant Marcengill.
Because of the condition of the woman's body, dental records are being
used to determine positive identification, a Moody spokesman said.
Sergeant Crowder is being held by the sheriff's department. A bail
hearing is pending.
360. Medal wear criteria
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Desert Shield and Desert Storm participants who meet
certain eligibility requirements are authorized to wear the Southwest Asia
Service Medal, Air Force personnel officials said May 29.
To be eligible, servicemen and women must have served in one or more of
the following areas after Aug. 2:
The Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, portions of the
Arabian Gulf, and Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the
United Arab Emirates.
Also, two bronze service stars will be awarded. One will be for
participation in Operation Desert Shield, the defense of Saudi Arabia
campaign, from Aug. 2 to Jan. 16, and the second for Desert Storm, the
liberation and defense of Kuwait campaign, after Jan. 16. A closeout date is
yet to be determined. These will be worn on the medal and service ribbon.
People who directly supported combat operations while serving in Israel,
Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan, including the air space and territorial
waters, after Jan. 17 may also wear the medal.
These people had to be:
-- Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an
organization participating in ground or shore military operations.
-- Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval
vessel directly supporting military operations.
-- Actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights
directly supporting military operations in the previously listed areas.
-- Serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60
non-consecutive days. These time limitations can be waived for people
involved in actual combat operations.
The medal may also be awarded posthumously.
The award is worn after the Vietnam Service Medal and before the
Humanitarian Service Medal.
More information is available from base personnel offices.
361. Stealth backing
by SSgt. David P. Masko
Air Force News Service
WASHINGTON -- While congressional concern centers on the value
of new stealth weapons systems, the commander of Tactical Air Command
confirmed the requirement saying Desert Storm amply illustrates that stealth
has revolutionized air warfare.
"Our experience with stealth in Desert Storm leads us to conclude that
stealth greatly multiplies force capabilities, efficiencies and effects," Gen.
John M. Loh told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 4. "That is why
stealth is the linch pin of our major force modernization efforts. Stealth
enabled us to gain surprise each and every day of the war."
Desert Storm was the first large-scale use of a stealth aircraft, the F-
117, in combat. Over the course of the war, F-117s flew only about 1 percent
of the total sorties, but covered about 40 percent of the strategic air
campaign's targets.
With stealth, radar detection ranges are drastically reduced. This
limits enemy warning time, and allows aircrews to fly with the confidence they
will hit their targets and survive, General Loh said.
"In my opinion, without the F-117 the fighter pilot losses and civilian
casualties would have been an order of magnitude higher.
"At least 10 times higher," he said.
Although some in Congress concede that the F-117's performance in the
Gulf War proves that stealth works, they are still skeptical about supporting
legislation to buy new stealth aircraft.
"There are people who say that we don't need the next generation of
platforms and systems like the B-2, and the Advanced Tactical Fighter," said
Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Our current generation of the F-15s, F-16s and B-52s d
id just fine."
The Air Force is already taking a severe drawdown in force structure of
about 30 percent. But by taking this strength away, extreme flexibility will
still be needed for the Air Force to be able to perform its missions, General
Loh said.
To meet the current and future threat, he said, the next generation of
stealth, the B-2 bomber and F-22 Advanced Air Superiority Fighter, is crucial
to the U.S. national nuclear deterrent and conventional military strategy.
"The B-2's flexibility, survivability and adaptability are not found in
the other nuclear deterrent forces," General Loh said. "Like the F-117, it,
too, will revolutionize conventional warfighting."
Moreover, the B-2 can carry more than 10 times the load of an F-117 at
more than five times the unrefueled range.
While the B-2 will revolutionize both nuclear deterrence and conventional
warfighting, stealth technology will help the F-22 revolutionize air-to-air
warfighting.
"Air superiority is our most critical mission because it gives all our
forces freedom of action and the ability to conduct all other air and ground
missions," General Loh said.
"Desert Storm clearly demonstrated the advantages we enjoy with total
freedom of action in the air, why we need to win air superiority decisively
and efficiently, and why we need the F-22 to do this crucial mission with an
overwhelming advantage."
Another argument for modernizing the tactical force is that by the time
the F-22 is fielded, the average F-15 will be 25 years old. The Air Force is
continuing to upgrade the F-15, the general told lawmakers, "but it is
impossible to give the F-15 the combination of stealth, supersonic cruise,
supportability and weapons we get with the F-22."
Senator Nunn asked why will the United States need such a high degree of
superiority in light of the changing world situation and a reduced threat from
the Soviet Union.
"We've come to understand that after Desert Storm we may be a victim of
our own successes," General Loh said. "In any future conflict, we're going to
have to win with overwhelming advantage.
"I don't think that the Congress, or the American people will want to
commit significant numbers of U.S. forces into a regional conflict where the
prospect of losing thousands or tens of thousands of lives exists."
362. Travel delays
RHEIN-MAIN AB, Germany (AFNS) -- People planning to fly out of the
Military Airlift Command terminal here in the next year, especially those
anticipating Space A travel, should be prepared for delays and other
inconveniences caused by the remodeling project underway at the terminal,
officials said.
The busy summer travel season and the renovation project make it "not
business as usual," SMSgt. Anthony Waltzing, passenger services
superintendent, said. An average of 30,000 passengers transit the terminal
each month.
A major policy change caused by construction will prohibit passengers
from bringing their luggage into the terminal. Instead, passengers with
confirmed reservations can check their baggage in a temporary storage facility
located at the terminal's new entrance. Keeping luggage outside the terminal
is necessary because floorspace in the terminal is limited because of
construction, Sergeant Waltzing said.
Passengers without confirmed reservations can store their luggage in
rental lockers located in front of the terminal.
Many of the facilities located inside the terminal will be moved to tents
located in the terminal parking lot, including AAFES facilities, scheduled
airline ticket office and the traffic management office.
"Basically, there will be no creature comforts in the terminal," Sergeant
Waltzing said.
People signing up for Space A MAC travel should also be prepared for
longer than normal waits for getting a seat. Currently the waiting period is
one to three days for aircraft traveling to the United States; however, when
the school year ends, that wait increases to a minimum of 10 days.
Construction of the new terminal is expected to be completed next June.
"All of these changes should make the waiting period much nicer for
passengers flying out of Rhein-Main," Sergeant Waltzing said. "But in the
meantime, remember... patience." (Courtesy of the Rhein-Main Gateway.)
363. Money transfer
DALLAS - The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is teaming up with
Western Union to expand money transfer opportunities for exchange patrons,
AAFES officials said.
Customers can now send and receive money in minutes between 123 exchanges
and more than 16,000 Western Union agents in the continental United States.
Overseas, AAFES provides this service in Hawaii and the Philippines, and hopes
to offer it soon in Korea, Okinawa and Guam, officials said.
Money transactions at AAFES exchanges are handled by exchange employees
who have received extensive training from Western Union. At most exchanges,
money transfer services are provided at the cashiers cage or check cashing
counter.
At some locations, these services are provided in shoppettes or other
AAFES facilities.
AAFES employees can advise you of the exact location of this service.
More information and exact locations of this service is available by calling
Western Union toll-free, 1-800-325-6000.
--
bergman@afnews.af.mil
Air Force News Center
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA