Air Force One-Star to Lead Pakistan Border Probe
November 29th, 2011 | Flightlines | Posted by Markeshia Ricks
Brig. Gen. Stephen Clark of Air Force Special Operations Command has been tapped to get to the bottom of a NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on Nov. 26.
Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, appointed the rated command pilot as the investigating officer who will lead the probe and deliver a report by Dec. 23, according to the Pentagon.
Clark has been in the Air Force for about 25 years and previously served as the commander for the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, according to his service biography. He is currently serving at AFSOC headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Clark will be responsible for determining which U.S., NATO International Security Assistance Forces, Afghan and Pakistan units were involved; which units did or did not cross the border and under what conditions and authorities; what coordination was conducted, what battle damage occurred and the cause of deaths and injuries; and recommendations for improving near-border operations, according to the Pentagon.
Tags: afghanistan, AFSOC, Brig. Gen. Stephen Clark, Gen. James N. Mattis, ISAF, nato, Pakistan, U.S. Central Command
Royal watchers rejoice, Harry is coming to America
August 25th, 2011 | Afghanistan Air Force Airframes | Posted by David Larter
Capt. Henry Charles Albert David Windsor, better known as Great Britain’s Prince Harry, may be coming to an Air Force Base near you. You don’t have to be teenage girl to get excited about this heartthrob — although, ladies, he is single — because he’s not just another pretty face. He’s among world’s the most famous veterans of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. And he’s heading back.
The Telegraph reported earlier this summer that the prince, a captain in the British Army Air Corps, is heading back to the ‘Stan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot — no easy job. But not, the AP reports today, before he comes to the U.S. for training.
[A spokeswoman for Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.] confirmed that the prince is taking part in the Apache Conversion to Role course in the United Kingdom. That course continues in Exercise Crimson Eagle in Arizona and California.
Exercise Crimson Eagle has been held previously at the Barry M. Goldwater U.S. Air Force Range in southwestern Arizona.
If you need to be reminded, the Apache is a total badass of a helicopter. It often acts in a direct support role for troops in contact downrange. See this classic video of insurgents placing IEDs for proof:
Tags: afghanistan, Apache, British Army Air Corps, ISAF, Prince Harry