• Shot down on D-Day

    Editor's note: The following narrative is the first-person account of Jack Prince's crash after being shot down in Normandy on D-Day. "As we went on in and got close to the drop zone I was starting to get a lot of ground fire, you know antiaircraft fire. "Just about the time I was ready to drop the

  • Put TRICARE on Your Pre-Deployment Checklist

    If there's one universal rule in the military, it's that pre-deployment days can be hectic. There's a lot that needs taking care of, like getting finances and legal documents in order and making arrangements for family issues while away. If deploying from a reserve component, civilian employers must

  • D-Day sidebar: Decoding C-47 fuselage and tail numbers

    Each of the 442nd TCG's squadrons' aircraft had a two character unit code painted on the fuselage just aft of the cockpit. A third letter, painted on the tail, was the letter of the aircraft itself which enabled it to be recognized among those of its squadron. The initial of this individual letter

  • D-Day remembered: 442nd Troop Carrier Group members describe "longest day"

    The 442nd Fighter Wing flag is adorned with battle streamers reflecting the unit's accomplishments through its history. One streamer, a simple blue ribbon with two words embroidered in white on it, reads "Normandy Invasion." Sixty-five years ago, in the early hours of June 6, 1944, the 442nd Troop

  • The boom behind the scenes

    Explosions, machine gun fire, terrific sound and visual effects--no James Bond or action movie would be complete without these elements. For the spectators attending the 2009 Wings Over Whiteman Air Show, the added explosions and simulated munitions during the aerial demonstrations of the B-25,

  • PMEL: Precision for Whiteman

    Most Whiteman Airmen know of precision munitions - the kind that can destroy a single house and almost leave neighbors sleeping. But few probably know what lies behind that simple term, precision. Retired Chief Master Sgt. Edward Randall can attest to the importance of precision, for the B-2 weapons

  • Operations Group welcomes new commander

    Col. James Dawkins Jr. assumed command of the 509th Operations Group from Col. Thomas Bussiere during an assumption of command ceremony here June 1. Col. John Robinson, 509th Bomb Wing vice commander, presided over the ceremony. As the new operations group commander Colonel Dawkins said his goals

  • Airpower on display

    Lawn chairs lined the perimeter of the flight line as more than 40,000 people awaited the flight of the T-38 Talon. Col. Robinson, 509th Bomb Wing vice commander, gave thanks to military members during the opening ceremonies and U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton introduced Lee Greenwood for the singing of the