AF Year in Photos U.S. Air Force Logo Jan. 8, 2021 386th Air Expeditionary Wing conducts RADR exercise Senior Airman Zaldy Edjan, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron water fuel systems maintenance technician, shovels dirt from a wheel saw during rapid airfield damage recovery training at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 1, 2020. RADR training teaches Airmen how to rebuild a damaged runway after an attack in a short amount of time to get planes back in the air. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum) Details Download In the loop Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, executes a maneuver known as the "Power Loop" during a performance at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 10, 2020. The maneuver uses thrust vectoring technology unique to the F-22 that allows it to rotate through the air. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Sam Eckholm) Details Download Jolly Green II completes developmental testing A 413th Flight Test Squadron HH-60W Pave Hawk hangs in the anechoic chamber at the Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Systems hangar, Jan. 6, 2020, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The J-PRIMES anechoic chamber is a room designed to stop internal reflections of electromagnetic waves, as well as insulate from external sources of electromagnetic noise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Details Download Bouncing Bettys: We can do it! Airmen from the 31st and 731st Munition Squadrons compete in the Rapid Aircraft Generation and Employment weapons-loading competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 7, 2020. Dressed as the legendary Rosie the Riveter, the first all-female team, or “Bouncing Bettys,” took first place in the RAGE event by demonstrating preparation and communication, which are bedrocks for success in any military conflict. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever) Details Download Show of force A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and six F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to Misawa Air Base, Japan, conduct bilateral joint training with four Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s off the coast of Northern Japan, Feb. 4, 2020. U.S. Strategic Command’s bomber forces regularly conduct combined theater security cooperation engagements with allies and partners, demonstrating U.S. capability to command, control and conduct bomber missions around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie A. Bulow-Gonterman) Details Download Moving cargo Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron unload pallets of cargo Feb. 6, 2020, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The air transportation specialists unloaded more than 40 pallets and transported them to the receiving yard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson) Details Download Inspection reflection Airmen assigned to the 911th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform a pre-flight inspection on a C-17 Globemaster III at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., March 3, 2020. Pre-flight inspections are performed on aircraft before every flight to ensure mission and operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua J. Seybert) Details Download Defenders practice MEDEVAC during readiness exercise Airmen assigned to the 354th Security Forces Squadron carry a simulated casualty during a medical evacuation exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Feb. 26, 2020. The Airmen simulated taking small-arms fire and evacuating casualties to a UH-60 Blackhawk assigned to the Army 1-52D General Support Aviation Battalion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Beaux Hebert) Details Download Arctic Eagle 2020 An LC-130 assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing sits on the ski-landing area on the sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska, to receive cargo during the Camp Rockwell pack-out, March 3, 2020, during exercise Arctic Eagle 2020. The 109th AW participated in the exercise and built a runway in the snow to showcase the LC-130’s ability to access remote polar environments. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt Christopher DuMond) Details Download LOX bleed out Senior Airman Zachary Anderson, 911th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, observes excess liquid oxygen released from a C-17 Globemaster III at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., March 10, 2020. Liquid oxygen is routinely serviced to ensure aircrew and potential passengers have breathable oxygen while flying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua J. Seybert) Details Download Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein conducts COVID-19 press briefing Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein conducts a press briefing with the Pentagon Press Corps to address Air Force response efforts for COVID-19 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., March 18, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark) Details Download Bomber Task Force Europe operations A U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II conduct aerial operations in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-2 over the North Sea, March 18, 2020. Bomber missions provide opportunities to train and work with NATO allies and theater partners in combined and joint operations and exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew) Details Download Heritage flight training course 2020 - Days three/four Capt. Kristin Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, flies during a demonstration at the Air Force Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 29, 2020. The Heritage Flight Training Course helps train all single-ship aerial demonstration teams before the upcoming summer air show season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble) Details Download U.S. Space Force trainees take on BEAST Week A U.S. Space Force trainee, assigned to the 320th Training Squadron, participates in the over and under bars obstacle during Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Annex, Texas, Dec. 2, 2020. This trainee was among the first to attend basic military training before entering the operational Space Force, which was established as the sixth military branch, Dec. 20, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James R. Crow) Details Download Jolly and green An HH-60W Jolly Green II sits in a frozen chamber in the McKinley Climatic Lab, March 19, 2020, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Air Force’s newest combat search and rescue helicopter and crews experienced temperature extremes from 120 to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit as well as torrential rain during the month-long testing period. The tests evaluate how the aircraft and its instrumentation, electronics and crew fare under the extreme conditions it will face during operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Details Download USSF Hallway Unveiling Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett walks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass before a ceremony unveiling the newly decorated Space Force hallway at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Dec. 18, 2020. The ceremony celebrated the Space Force's first birthday, which officially occurred on Dec. 20. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Commemoration flight Two U.S. Air Force and two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., break formation during a commemoration flight Oct. 8, 2020, over Bagdad, Ariz. The flight celebrated the partnership between the RAAF and U.S. Air Force in their joint efforts in training the world’s most capable fighter pilots. The flight marked the final sortie between the two nations before Luke AFB’s Australian partners departed back home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook) Details Download Bilateral joint training A U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to Misawa Air Base, Japan, conduct bilateral joint training with Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s off the coast of northern Japan, April 22, 2020. The training emphasized the U.S. and Japan’s strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region while showcasing the variety of aircraft of both militaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Moore) Details Download Orange ops Airmen support a Transport Isolation System operation at Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, July 17, 2020. Airmen rapidly deployed the bio-containment capability on a C-17 Globemaster III for the first time in the Indo-Pacific theater to support a COVID-19 aeromedical evacuation mission. The TIS is an infectious disease containment unit designed to minimize contamination risk to aircrew and medical attendants while allowing in-flight medical care to patients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Anthony Nelson) Details Download Team Hickam TFI readiness F-22 Raptors, a KC-135 Stratotanker and a C-17 Globemaster III taxi on the runway during routine training April 21, 2020, at Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii. The active-duty 15th Wing and Air National Guard’s 154th Wing, both assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, work together to deliver combat airpower, tanker fuel, humanitarian support and disaster relief across the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier) Details Download Total Force Airmen demonstrate Alaskan airpower An E-3 Sentry and F-22 Raptors assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, fly over mountains May 5, 2020. The aircraft, which were part of a formation flight demonstrating airpower, consisted of active duty, Guard and Reserve components. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla) Details Download Flight line sunrise Airmen assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing tow an F-15E Strike Eagle April 15, 2020, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The F-15E is an extremely maneuverable tactical fighter designed for the Air Force to establish air superiority on the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson) Details Download Rican 68 remembrance ceremony Airmen assigned to the 156th Wing, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, place wreaths at the Rican 68 monument during a remembrance ceremony at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico, May 2, 2020. The ceremony was in honor of the nine Airmen who passed away when their C-130 Hercules crashed in Savannah, Ga., May 2, 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Caycee Watson) Details Download 452nd AMW honors first responders with C-17 and KC-135 flyovers Medical and law-enforcement personnel wave and cheer as a KC-135 Stratotanker flies over the crowd at the Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley, Calif., May 14, 2020. The 452nd Air Mobility Wing participated in two flyovers in the #AirForceSalutes portion of #AmericaStrong collaborative salute with the U.S. Navy, honoring local healthcare workers, essential employees and other first responders on the front line of the battle against COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Kibbe) Details Download B-1s integrate with Swedish Gripens for first time over Sweden B-1B Lancers assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., integrated with Swedish Armed Forces JAS 39 Gripens for the first time over Sweden during a long-range, long-duration Bomber Task Force mission, May 20, 2020. Operations and engagements with allies and partners demonstrate and strengthen the shared commitment to global security and stability. (Swedish Armed Forces courtesy photo) Details Download Utah National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assist state in COVID-19 response Airman 1st Class Mary Lawrence, a medical technician assigned to the 151st Medical Group, conducts a COVID-19 test on a member of the Utah National Guard at a supply warehouse in Salt Lake City, May 14, 2020. More than 120 Soldiers and Airmen from the Utah National Guard are assisting in the COVID-19 response, including supply and warehouse management, logistics and testing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Winn) Details Download High level inspection Staff Sgt. Andre Rivera, 911th Maintenance Squadron jet propulsion technician, inspects a C-17 Globemaster III engine during a Home Station Check inspection at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., May 18, 2020. Due to the travel restrictions put in place because of COVID-19, Airmen are performing HSC inspections on the airport’s flightline while a new hangar is under construction. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua J. Seybert) Details Download B-1B Lancers fly 24-hour mission for BTF Ninth Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancer mechanics take selfies as a B-1B flies overhead at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 21, 2020. The 9th EBS deployed to Guam along with 200 Airmen assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing, as part of a Bomber Task Force supporting Pacific Air Forces’ strategic deterrence missions and commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman River Bruce) Details Download Carrying GBUs An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron takes off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., May 21, 2020. The 422nd TES utilized GBU-49 bombs during a routine training mission to test the bomb's capabilities with the F-35. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie) Details Download 100th ARW fuels B-52 off Norwegian coast A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., breaks away from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, after receiving fuel during a strategic bomber mission off the northern Norwegian coast, June 3, 2020. Joint and combined training, exercises and operations help mitigate and reduce security risks associated with increased human activity in the arctic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez) Details Download Combat search-and-rescue Master Sgt. Dan, 301st Rescue Squadron Special Mission aviator, flies in an HH-60G Pave Hawk, May 30, 2020, at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Special missions aviators can perform as a flight engineer, loadmaster, aerial gunner, navigator, weapons system specialist, electronic warfare officer, radio operator, sensor operator and combat systems officer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kelly Goonan) Details Download It's raining flares Airmen assigned to the 347th Rescue Group drop flares from an HH-60G Pave Hawk during a fini flight for Col. Bryan Creel, 347th RQG commander at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 5, 2020. The fini flight is a long-standing Air Force tradition that occurs when a pilot departs from an assigned unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hayden Legg) Details Download Operation Resolute Support A KC-135 Stratotanker in-air refueling specialist with the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron conducts pre-mission operations checks at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 21, 2020. The 28th EARS, deployed with U.S. Air Forces Central Command, is responsible for delivering fuel to U.S. and coalition forces, providing airpower, deterrence and stability to the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts) Details Download Ready for approach A C-130J Super Hercules approaches the runway at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 4, 2020. All inbound and outbound aircraft maintain communications with Yokota AB's air traffic controllers, ensuring a safe operating environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download JBER Salutes local COVID-19 heroes Maj. Joshua Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration team pilot and commander, flies an F-22 Raptor over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 9, 2020, as part of JBER Salutes, a two-day event to show of appreciation to service members and nearly 100 Anchorage-area “COVID Heroes” and their guests. The service members and COVID Heroes, nominated for their support to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, toured the installation, viewed exhibits and static displays of aircraft and watched demonstrations by explosive ordnance disposal, military working dog teams, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear experts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Details Download SecAF beholds Alaska airpower during visit, emphasizes Arctic’s importance to national security Master Sgt. Thomas Hulsart, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35A Lightning II production superintendent, bumps elbows with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett after being coined at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 7, 2020. During her visit, Barrett talked with Airmen to learn more about how they contribute to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Larue Guerrisky) Details Download U.S. Air Force Academy BCT marching drills Academy basic cadets participate in the first phase of basic cadet training with marching drills July 8, 2020, on the Terrazzo at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The global COVID-19 pandemic changed how the more than 1,100 basic cadets train by enforcing social distancing and face mask rules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Catching a LIFT Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., sits in a LIFT Aircraft Hexa aircraft during a visit to Camp Mabry, Texas, Aug. 20, 2020. During the visit, Col. Nathan Diller, AFWERX director, spoke about Agility Prime, a non-traditional program seeking to accelerate the commercial market for advanced air mobility vehicles. (Air National Guard photo by Staff. Sgt. Sean Kornegay) Details Download Food on the front lines of COVID-19 Senior Airman Margaret Dziamba, left, a fitness services specialist, and Staff Sgt. Jordan Sexton, a food services specialist, both assigned to the 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron, prepare meal containers for quarantined Airmen at the Pecos Trail dining facility at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., May 15, 2020. The 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron is responsible for preparing three hot meals a day, and snacks and drinks for more than 140 Airmen quarantined at Cannon AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maxwell Daigle) Details Download Former Secretary Wilson's official portrait unveiling Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett and former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson unveils Wilson’s official portrait during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., July 28, 2020. Wilson served as secretary from May 16, 2017 to May 31, 2019, during a time of transition for the Air Force. The service moved from an era defined by combatting terrorism to confronting emerging powers such as Russia and China. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark) Details Download Release the flares Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs release countermeasure flares over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, July 23, 2020. The A-10 is a highly accurate airframe that provides U.S. and coalition forces a maneuverable close air support and precision strike platform. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Parsons) Details Download CSAF transfer of responsibility ceremony Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett administers the oath of office to incoming Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., while his wife Sharene holds the Bible during the CSAF change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 6, 2020. Brown is the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark) Details Download 316th Security Support Squadron hosts “Top Dog” competition Staff Sgt. Samantha Frydenlund, 316th Security Support Squadron Military Working Dog section handler, aims at a target as part of a “Top Dog” competition at Joint Base Andrews, Md., July 24, 2020. The shooting portion of the tournament tests the K-9s’ ability to stay focused and respond well to erratic noises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bridgitte Taylor) Details Download CMSAF transfer of responsibility ceremony Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and her husband, Rahn Bass, walk arm in arm as they leave the CMSAF transfer of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 14, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya) Details Download National Guard’s Reaction Force Tech. Sgt. Estevan Jojola puts on his face shield during a training exercise in Albuquerque, N.M., Aug. 17, 2020. Jojola, along with other 150th Security Forces Squadron personnel trained in support of the New Mexico National Guard’s Reaction Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ian Beckley) Details Download Joint CSAR event Senior Airman Jack Peterson, a special mission’s aviator from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, maneuvers a .50-caliber machine gun during a joint combat search and rescue exercise with the U.S. Marine Corps, Aug. 6, 2020 near Okinawa, Japan. The primary mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations to hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rebeckah Medeiros) Details Download Mobility Airmen conduct historic first aeromedical evacuation mission using Transport Isolation System Airmen prepare to offload COVID-19 patients during the first-ever operational use of the Transport Isolation System at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 10, 2020. The TIS is an infectious disease containment unit designed to minimize contamination risk to aircrew and medical attendants while allowing in-flight medical care for patients afflicted by a disease. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Devin Nothstine) Details Download 340th EARS conduct aerial refueling with two F-15Cs A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle releases flares over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Aug. 13, 2020. The F-15C is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter designed to perform air-to-air missions, demonstrating U.S. Air Forces Central Command's posture to fight and win today. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan) Details Download World War II ace pilots Dean “Diz” Laird, left, and Clarence “Bud” Anderson, both World War II ace pilots, watch as a KC-10 Extender taxis at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 10, 2020. At 99 and 98, respectively, Laird and Anderson were high school students together in Auburn, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Conrad) Details Download U.S. Air Force B-52s return to Europe for ally, partner training Two B-52 Stratofortresses fly over RAF Station Fairford, United Kingdom, Aug. 22, 2020. Strategic bombers contribute to European theater stability as they are intended to deter conflict and offer a rapid response capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eugene Oliver) Details Download Thunderbirds soar over Indy 500 Maj. Zane Taylor, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" slot pilot, flies over Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the opening ceremonies of the 104th Indy 500 in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 23, 2020. This was the first time the Thunderbirds performed the opening ceremonies for the Indy 500. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew D. Sarver) Details Download USAF, RSAF conduct Exercise Desert Eagle in CENTCOM AOR A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, and Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SAs fly over Saudi Arabia while participating in a large formation exercise, Sept. 10, 2020. Air Forces Central continues to build and strengthen regional partners by training alongside one another, integrating capabilities and increasing interoperability to project agile combat employment from established and austere locations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan) Details Download Ghost robotics Tech. Sgt. John Rodiguez, 321st Contingency Response Squadron security team, provides security with a Ghost Robotics Vision 60 prototype at a simulated austere base during the Advanced Battle Management System exercise on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 1, 2020. The ABMS is an interconnected battle network — the digital architecture or foundation — which collects, processes and shares data relevant to warfighters to make better decisions faster. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cory D. Payne) Details Download MQ-9 Reaper takes flight with 8 Hellfire missiles An MQ-9A Reaper assigned to the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron sits on the ramp at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 10, 2020. This was the first flight test of the MQ-9 carrying eight Hellfire missiles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Haley Stevens) Details Download Collaboration builds camaraderie: Total Force, community firefighters train at Dover Air Force and civilian firefighters participate in a nighttime live-fire burn exercise at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Sept. 28, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail) Details Download U-2 Federal Lab achieves flight with Kubernetes A U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing prepares to land at Beale Air Force Base, Cali., Dec. 15, 2020. This flight marks a major leap forward for national defense as artificial intelligence took flight aboard a military aircraft for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense. The AI algorithm, developed by Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, trained the AI to execute specific in-flight tasks that would otherwise be done by the pilot. The flight was part of a specifically constructed scenario pitting the AI against another dynamic computer algorithm in order to prove both the new technological capability and its ability to work in coordination with a human. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez) Details Download Eagles in the air at RAF Lakenheath An F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, takes off at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Oct. 14, 2020. The 48th Fighter Wing engages in daily training to maintain a ready force, able to safeguard U.S. national interests and the collective defense of the NATO alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte) Details Download Riding the Dragon Capt. David Cotter, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 Dragon Lady pilot, sits in the cockpit at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 14, 2020. Not pictured, in the backseat, sits Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. During the base visit, Dr. Roper emphasized the need for rapid, enterprise-wide deployment of digital engineering, open architecture and agile software development as the Air Force accelerates critical modernization efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dakota C. LeGrand) Details Download Air Policing critical to Arctic strategy F-15C/D Eagles, assigned to the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conduct a routine aerial mission in support of NATO Air Police operations at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, Oct. 20, 2020. Operations and exercises like the NATO Air Police mission, uphold international rule-based order and maintain a steadfast layer of collective defense for all allied Arctic members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew) Details Download FalconSat X Cadet First Class Amanda Beach and Cadet First Class Cole Turner, fasten a solar array substrate to the FalconSat X structural engineering model at the Department of Astronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 15, 2020. The FalconSAT program serves as an academic platform for an array of aerospace industry and Defense Department experiments. Cadets design spacecraft and integrate payloads in the Space Systems Research Center with faculty support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua Armstrong) Details Download Prairie Vigilance: Lead the way Airman 1st Class Stephen McArthur, 5th Security Forces Squadron response force sentry, stands guard in front of a B-52H Stratofortress at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 19, 2020, during exercise Prairie Vigilance. The annual exercise, performed in conjunction with Barksdale AFB, demonstrates Air Force Global Strike Command’s ability to generate strategic bombers at a moment’s notice and provide readiness training annually for Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dillon J. Audit) Details Download Combat search and rescue exercise: Keen Sword 21 A CV-22 Osprey prepares to take off at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, following combat search and rescue training during exercise Keen Sword, Oct. 29, 2020. Keen Sword is a joint, bilateral, biennial field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the Japan-U.S. alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Renee Douglas) Details Download Secretary Barrett Visits Selfridge Michigan Air National Guard leaders brief Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett on the 30mm Gatling-style weapon system of an A-10 Thunderbolt II during a visit to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 6, 2020. Barrett visited Selfridge ANGB to award Maj. Brett DeVries, 107th Fighter Squadron A-10 pilot, the Distinguished Flying Cross for superior aerial achievement for successfully landing a damaged A-10 during a 2017 training flight over northern Michigan. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton) Details Download 40th FLTS tests APKWS II Maj. Nathan McCaskey, 40th Flight Test Squadron test pilot, fires a rocket from his F-16 Fighting Falcon near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 3, 2020. The rocket was being tested against a ground based stationary target. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven) Details Download Sweden and U.S. strengthen air capabilities during Swedish-led bilateral exercise An MC-130J Commando II and a CV-22B Osprey, both assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Wing, prepare to perform a tilt-rotor air-to-air refueling over Sweden, Nov. 13, 2020. Special operations forces create conditions for a rapid response to an imminent threat with land, air and maritime capabilities to enhance stability in the Baltic Sea region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Roidan Carlson) Details Download Airmen greeted by families after deployment Airmen assigned to the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, are greeted by family members at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo., Nov. 19, 2020. The Airmen were returning from a deployment to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility where they provided C-130 Hercules aircraft support for Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Resolute Support. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Crane) Details Download Air Force special warfare Airmen and Army paratroopers conduct airborne operations at JBER Staff Sgt. Nicholas Waytkus, a tactical air control party specialist assigned to the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron, descends over Malemute Drop Zone while conducting airborne training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 17, 2020. The 3rd ASOS special warfare Airmen conducted the airborne training to maintain their active jump status and ensure mission readiness in an arctic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Details Download Air National Guardsmen prepare food boxes at the Food Lifeline Covid Response Washington Air National Guardsmen prepare food boxes at the Food Lifeline Covid Response warehouse April 23, 2020, in Seattle. More than 250 Air and Army National Guardsmen are assigned to the warehouse where they are able to prepare, on average, 268 boxes an hour. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Tim Chacon) Details Download SecAF visits Travis AFB Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett, speaks with Airmen from the 60th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Nov. 20, 2020, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Barrett made a brief stop to meet with base leadership and tour the Phoenix Spark laboratory and aeromedical evacuation facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Conrad) Details Download BTF nonstop from Minot to CENTCOM A B-52 Stratofortress flies in formation with F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-15E Strike Eagles during a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2020. Bomber Task Force missions help aircrew gain familiarity with the region's airspace and allow them to integrate with U.S. and partner air assets, increasing the combined force's overall readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes) Details Download 3rd ASOS special warfare Airmen conduct small unit training at JBER An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter lands to pick up Air Force special warfare Airmen, assigned to the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron during small unit training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 18, 2020. Conducted under physical and mental stress, the small unit training reinforced fundamental combat skills and fostered team cohesion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Details Download Air Force Football vs. University of New Mexico 2020 Air Force Falcons wide receiver Brandon Lewis throws up a stiff-arm as he runs past a University of New Mexico defender at the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Nov. 20, 2020. Air Force defeated New Mexico 28-0, making it the 100th career victory for Troy Calhoun, Air Force's head coach. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Global Power Bomber CTF conducts B-1B external captive carry demonstration A B-1B Lancer carrying an AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 20, 2020. The flight was a demonstration of the B-1B’s external weapons carriage capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner) Details Download Frontline defenders of COVID-19 Airman 1st Class Rachel Tucker, 56th Medical Group medical technician, poses for a portrait March 23, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. To contain the coronavirus pandemic, the 56th MDG worked over the weekend to facilitate screenings. The 56th MDG followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and worked closely with Arizona health officials to decrease the impact of COVID-19 at Luke AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook) Details Download Thanksgiving 2020 Cadets fill the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Mitchell Hall dining facility for Thanksgiving dinner, Nov. 26, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Mitchell Hall staff prepared about 4,000 meals for cadets who stayed at the Academy for the Thanksgiving holiday due to the coronavirus pandemic. Plans to give cadets a full-course Thanksgiving meal were developed when the Academy decided to keep cadets at the school for the holiday. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua Armstrong) Details Download A desert sunset over Creech AFB An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the runway during sunset at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 17, 2020. Using satellite communication links, the MQ-9 can acquire and pass real-time imagery data to ground users around the clock and beyond line of sight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Silverthorne) Details Download 816 EAS perform cargo transport operations C-17 Globemaster III crew members assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron perform routine flight duties during cargo transport operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 30, 2020. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the U.S. CENTCOM area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison) (This image was altered for security purposes) Details Download Air Force Capt. Kelliann Leli - Dignified Transfer An Air Force carry team transfers the remains of Capt. Kelliann Leli, Nov. 30, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Leli was assigned to the 60th Healthcare Operations Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail) Details Download 340th EARS refuel F-16s An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, flies alongside a KC-135R Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Aircraft Refueling Squadron, over Southwest Asia, Dec. 4, 2020. The F-16 is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that delivers airpower to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison) Details Download 50th EARS refuel F-16s Two U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, fly in formation with two Royal Saudi Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles during a routine exercise over Southwest Asia, Dec. 15, 2020. U.S. Air Forces Central Command continues to build and strengthen regional partners by training alongside one another, integrating capabilities and increasing interoperability to project agile combat employment from established and austere locations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison) Details Download Basic military training graduation A military training instructor, center, stands in front of his flight during a basic military graduation and coining ceremony, Dec. 10, 2020, for the 320th Training Squadron at the Pfingston Reception Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Approximately 39,000 Airmen graduate BMT annually to meet force requirements around the world, fueling the Air and Space Force. Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Air Force has safely and successfully graduated 8,510 Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Torres Jr.) Details Download Valkyrie takes flight An XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle launches at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2020. The flight successfully demonstrated the ability of new communications data to exchange information with an F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II and the transformative warfighting impact of the open architecture underpinning the Advanced Battle Management System. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua King) Details Download Squadron receive the COVID-19 vaccine Airmen from the 60th Surgical Operations Squadron, 60th Inpatient Squadron, 60th Healthcare Operations Squadron and 60th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron receive the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 22, 2020, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Navigating through a three-step process, the Airmen were among the first to receive the vaccine at the David Grant U.S. Air Force Medical Center, the Air Force’s largest medical facility, which provides care to more than 276,000 Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs-eligible beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cameron Otte) Details Download 340th EARS fuels Bomber Task Force mission A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during a multi-day Bomber Task Force mission over Southwest Asia, Dec. 10th, 2020. The B-52 is a long-range bomber with a range of approximately 8,800 miles, enabling rapid support of BTF missions or deployments and reinforcing global security and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride) Details Download USAF Thunderbirds & USN Blue Angels perform America Strong flyover The Air Force's air demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, flies over New York City, April 28, 2020, during an event to recognize health care workers, first responders, service members and other essential personnel during the coronavirus pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cory Bush) Details Download JBER Airman awarded Bronze Star Medal Master Sgt. Jehu Forte shakes hands with his daughter, Thalia, as he hugs his son, Abram, after a ceremony awarding him the Bronze Star Medal at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 8, 2020. Forte received the decoration for meritorious achievement for actions while supporting U.S. and coalition forces in the Middle East as a tactical operations superintendent and air advisor. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo by Justin Connaher) Details Download Cool Runnings Members of the Eglin Air Force Base community run into the Choctawhatchee Bay during a Polar Bear Plunge at Eglin AFB, Fla., Jan. 17, 2020. The event is held during winter months where participants enter the water despite low temperatures in order to raise money for charity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Details Download SpaceX Demo-2 launch A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA astronaut and retired Marine Corps Col. Douglas Hurley and fellow crew member, Robert Behnken, is seen in this false-color infrared exposure as it launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla.’s Launch Complex 39A during NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station, May 30, 2020. The mission with Hurley, a former test and fighter pilot, marks the resumption of human space flight from the United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo courtesy of NASA by Bill Ingalls) Details Download Black light detective Airman 1st Class Caleb Leader inspects a piece of control equipment using nondestructive fluid under ultraviolet light at the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing in Cheyenne, Wyo., Feb. 9, 2020. The process allows for the evaluation of materials without causing damage to the original part. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathon Alderman) Details Download Frosty Flight Line An Air Force C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft sits on the flight line in subzero temperatures at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 10, 2020. The C-5 is a strategic transport aircraft and the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Connaher) Details Download Minnesota National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing Conducts Training A Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 Hercules participates in airdrop and aerial flare release training above Camp Ripley, Minn., Sept. 16, 2020. Flares are an essential countermeasure used to confuse enemy heat-seeking missiles. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Anthony Housey) Details Download E-8C JSTARS An E-8C JSTARS is refueled over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 14, 2020. The JSTARS is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with an antenna that can cover approximately 50,000 square kilometers. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Details Download Eielson AFB team exercised rapid combat readiness, demonstrates Aircraft assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing and 168th Wing line the runway at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 18, 2020. More than 30 aircraft were quickly generated and prepared to launch in an effort demonstrating the readiness capabilities of the 354th FW and the 168th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keith Holcomb) Details Download Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen with the 378th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron participate in an exercise to repair a runway at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dec. 31, 2020. The training helps improve mission effectiveness and ensure damaged base roadways are repaired rapidly with minimal mission downtime. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Details Download C-130 Hercules at Juliet Drop zone U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Italian Army Paratroopers conduct an airborne operation after exiting an 86th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules at Juliet Drop Zone, Pordenone, Italy. (U.S. Army photo by Paolo Bovo) Details Download Minuteman III An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 5, 2020. ICBM test launches demonstrate that the U.S. nuclear enterprise is safe, secure, effective and ready to defend the United States and its allies.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Clayton Wear) Details Download 'Furious 48' readiness exercise An Airman from the 48th Fighter Wing takes precaution during a simulated attack at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Feb. 11, 2020. Exercise Furious 48 is a two-day exercise intended to prepare U.S. Air Force personnel for sustained combat operations in contested and degraded environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madeline Herzog) Details Download A-10 Demo at Wings over Warren 2020 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, assigned to the A-10 Demonstration Team, sit on the flightline at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyo., July 20, 2020. The A-10, F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor Demonstration Teams performed at the Wings over Warren airshow, July 22, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristine Legate) Details Download RocketShip delivers Delta IV Heavy boosters at VAFB The stern gate opens on a United Launch Alliance barge, known as “RocketShip,” revealing Delta IV Heavy boosters, April 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The barge offloaded Delta IV Heavy boosters for a launch scheduled to occur later this year. The barge operation is a vital first step to executing the mission of assured access to space. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Aubree Owens) Details Download Keeping the War Fighter Fueled in the AOR A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II approaches the refueling boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during air refueling over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, July 29, 2020. The F-35A is a fifth-generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility that provides U.S. Air Forces Central Command lethal war-winning airpower. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr.) Details Download This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
