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  • Wing heritage rooted in WWII Luftwaffe dogfights

    The 4th Fighter Wing was born in war. In the early stages of World War II, American volunteer aviators flew for the British Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons. When the United States formally entered the war in 1941, the three Eagle Squadrons became the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons of the

  • First RSAF jets arrive at Mountain Home AFB

    The first four of 10 F-15SG fighters from the Republic of Singapore air force, or RSAF, arrived at Mountain Home AFB May 6. "It seemed like there were 1,000 things that had to happen," said Col. John Bird, 366th Fighter Wing commander. "It seemed overwhelming, but all of these things are happening

  • Joint exercise held at Creech

    More than 100 Soldiers and members of the Republic of Singapore Air Force participated in an exercise with the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron here April 19 through May 2. Working with the 11 RS, Peace Vanguard, an AH-64 Apache Helicopter unit, comprised of Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers from the

  • Hunter Airmen participate in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

    Two Airmen assigned to the 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing helped make a difference in the lives of two families through their volunteer efforts. Staff Sgt. Chasidy Sells, NCO in charge of 432d Wing Plans and Programs, and Airman 1st Class Troy Spence, 432d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

  • 49th Fighter Wing deploys for Combat Hammer

    The 49th Fighter Wing is participating in Combat Hammer, a weapons system evaluation program, sponsored by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 86th FWS is able to evaluate the accuracy of  various air-to-ground weapons systems with the assistance of F-22A Raptors from

  • Dyess awards contracts from stimulus recovery money

    Dyess officials have awarded more than $10 million in stimulus recovery money recently to local contractors in projects designed to repair facilities on the base. The local contracts were all given to small businesses and will create jobs while adding money into the local economy. The 7th Bomb Wing

  • Dyess an example in energy

    When you think of energy conservation Dyess might not come to mind, but it's one of the lead bases in the Department of Defense. Mr. Tom Denslow, 7th Bomb Wing energy manager, is the man tasked with ensuring Dyess uses energy in the most economical and efficient way possible. He does this by

  • Military Working Dog honored during memorial service

    Holloman Air Force Base members said goodbye May 1 to one of their own at a memorial service rendering full military honors to a 49th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog. Uro, a four year-old German Shepherd, died April 24 at Holloman. His death was determined to be caused by Gastric

  • Memorial service held for ACC director of safety

    Family, friends and coworkers gathered to celebrate the life of Col. Billy J. Gilstrap Jr. during a memorial service at the Langley Chapel May 2. Colonel Gilstrap, Air Combat Command director of safety, died of cancer in his home April 27. Known as "Strapper" by coworkers and friends, the colonel

  • Reception honors Offutt's volunteers

    Today is their day to shine. They committed themselves to helping others and April 29 the community recognized them. Everyone in attendance cheered for them, thanking them for their selfless service. Offutt's volunteers accepted something they never asked for; a "thank you." The 55th Wing and the

  • Basic health education key in Dominican Republic

    The tropical environment here is great for tourists but brings a number of health concerns to the local population that tourists may take for granted. A high prevalence of health issues is caused by sunlight, insects and  high sugar content in foods combined with a lack of education on

  • First-term Airmen broaden skills in Dominican Republic

    Airmen on a Medical Readiness Training Exercise here are stepping out of their traditional home-station roles and enhancing their existing skill-sets by training in medical competencies they do not have the opportunity to experience back home. The Airmen face tough, sweaty, long hours of confusion,

  • South and Central American medical missions surge in April-May

    Air Force medical personnel will engage in 13 deployments for training to Central and South America in the months of April and May, a surge accounting for nearly 40% of the DFT missions scheduled for the year. DFTs put Air Force medics, active-duty, guard, and reserve, into remote areas of the

  • Texas and Chile forge military partnership

    During a ceremony Wednesday at the Texas State Capitol, distinguished visitors from Chile, the U.S. State Department, Southern Command, U.S. Army South, 12th Air Force, Texas Military Forces and the National Guard observed the signing of a State Partnership Program Memorandum of Agreement between

  • FOL sports day leaves Ecuadorian students with more than medals

    Over 40 children from the Angelica Flores special needs school in Manta, Ecuador, ran, jumped and kicked their way to victory here April 25 during a sports day hosted by Forward Operating Location (FOL) Manta volunteers.While the FOL's mission is supporting counternarcotics operations in the eastern

  • ACC F-15C demo team flies last flight, showcases 33rd FW Eagle era

    Nomad and Air Combat Command history was made May 1 as the last day an Eagle demonstrated its graceful flight full of high-performance climbs, split-s turns, loops, knife passes and dives. When the command's F-15 West Coast Demo Team performed their finale in front of the 33rd Fighter Wing Nomad

  • Nellis Airmen locate missing aircraft

    The Civil Air Patrol has ended its participation in an interagency effort to locate an overdue aircraft in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, May 1. Wreckage spotted by a U.S. Air Force Pavehawk rescue helicopter from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in Mono County, Calif., has been verified as the

  • Barksdale supports maritime operations mission

    Six Barksdale Airmen took part in the U.S. Navy's longest-running annual joint exercise, UNITAS, April 29 at the Jacksonville Operational Areas off of the coast of Jacksonville, Fla. In this year's exercise entitled UNITAS Gold, Barksdale was invited to participate in the sinking of the ex-USS

  • Sight for Skyler

    Skyler amuses herself with her toys, tries to walk, giggles incessantly when her dad plays with her and loves to cuddle up to her mom. In many ways, Skyler is just like any other 14-month-old, except she can't see. At only three-months old, Skyler was diagnosed with Septo-optic dysplasia, manifested

  • AFRCC supports 2009 Sun 'n Fun fly-in

    Extra measures were taken by First Air Force units to help speed search and rescue services to pilots flying here for the 2009 Sun 'n Fun fly-in. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, located in the 601st Air and Space Operations Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., opened a precautionary

  • Airmen mobilize to confront Afghan insurgency

    More than a dozen F-15E Strike Eagles, two DC-10s and a C-17 Globemaster met the rising sun over the Atlantic Ocean en route to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, April 29. Approximately 350 deploying Airmen from the 336th Fighter Squadron and 4th Maintenance Group will spend the next four months

  • First group of UPT pilots graduate from Predator FTU training at Creech

    The first group of Undergraduate Pilot Training students successfully completed the MQ-1B Predator Formal Training Unit's Initial Qualification Training course here April 24. Instructors said they were impressed with the UPT students. "The biggest strength of the UPT direct students was their

  • Ellsworth,Tinker partner to repair B-1

    Seven bomber repair experts from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group, Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight were dispatched to Ellsworth, March 21, saving Ellsworth approximately 1500 man-hours by repairing a B-1B that sustained damage here. The damage occurred in

  • Mississippi Air National Guard receives first MC-12 aircraft

    The Mississippi Air National Guard's 186th Air Refueling Wing welcomed the arrival of the first MC-12W yesterday at Key Field, Meridian, Miss. The arrival of the aircraft is part of the agreement between the Air Force and Air National Guard to establish a temporary MC-12 mission qualification

  • Swine flu prevention

    Federal health officials declared a public health emergency Sunday in response to the swine flu outbreak. By Monday, the number of confirmed cases in the United States rose to 40. Human cases of the illness have surfaced internationally. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced, "The

  • First Air Force Command Chief selected as NORTHCOM advisor

    As the first ever Air National Guard command chief master sergeant to be selected as a Command Senior Enlisted Advisor for a combatant command, the current Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force (AFNORTH) command chief takes a step into Air Force history. With the unprecedented selection, Chief

  • Warbirds fly at Wings Over Wayne 2009

    Even as aircrews from the U.S. Army Air Corps grow older, their legacy of valor will continue to fly for years thanks to members of the Disabled American Veterans. The DAV joins Wings Over Wayne Air Show and Seymour Johnson AFB Open House, April 25 to 26, to promote their message of service and

  • 55th Wing welcomes new commander

    The Fightin' Fifty-Fifth has a new leader following a change of command ceremony here today. Col. John N.T. Shanahan took command of the 55th Wing, Offutt's host unit, from Brig. Gen. James J. Jones, who had commanded the wing since March 2007. "Laura and I are absolutely thrilled to be here,"

  • Blue Flag enhances AF's ability to protect U.S. from attacks

    More than 500 Air Force personnel, along with representatives from the Army, Navy and Marines completed a two-week training exercise last week expected to improve how the Air Force will better monitor and intercept hostile military aircraft and respond to potential terrorist attacks. Part of a

  • CONR tracks aircraft over Washington D.C.

    Two Air Force F-16s and two U.S. Coast Guard HH-65s were scrambled today to respond to a small civilian aircraft that veered into the Air Defense Identification Zone over the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C. The F-16s made initial visual contact with the Piper Cub aircraft, and then

  • Langley Airmen home after Kadena deployment

    More than 200 Langley Airmen and six F-22 Raptors assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron returned this week from a 120-day theater security deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The first group of Airmen arrived April 18 and the first jets arrived April 22. The deployment, which began Jan. 6, was the

  • Earth Day -Time to reflect

    As Airmen observed Earth Day April 22, and reflected on different ways to protect and improve the planet, Ellsworth participated by continuing ENERGY STAR's "Operation Change Out," campaign, while also continuing its current energy conservation performance record. For Operation Change Out, a joint

  • Leading the way to Liberty

    More than 30 Air Force senior leaders, including the commander of Air Combat Command, visited MC-12 students in training at Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Miss., April 16. During the visit, leadership got a first-hand look at the efforts of the MC-12 training detachment, which is

  • Army Chinook airlifts fighter from Nellis to Creech

    The world's slowest F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft, traveling less than 80 mph, landed at Creech from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. approximately 7:30 a.m., April 22. The fighter was previously assigned to the 57th Wing and was suspended underneath an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter, assigned to the 1st of

  • Former Heisman Trophy winner, 'Gambler One' dies

    Former football star and "Gambler One," Col. (ret.) Felix "Doc" Blanchard, died from pneumonia April 19, 2009 at his home in Texas. He was 84. Colonel Blanchard, a three-time All-American, became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy as a member of the U.S. Military Academy in 1945 and drafted

  • Airman deploys with dog

    It is often said a dog is a man's best friend. For a Joint Expeditionary Tasking or JET Airman, his dog is not just a friend, but a tool that could mean life or death for servicemembers patrolling the Iraqi streets. Senior Airman William Bailey, a military working dog handler and JET Airman from the

  • Air Combat Command crowns its annual award winners

    Air Combat Command honored nominees from across the command this week during its ACC Outstanding Airmen of the year celebration. The nominees were selected at their unit, base level and numbered Air Force level as the best of the best in six categories: Airman, noncommissioned officer, senior

  • 179th Fighter Squadron Wins Raytheon Trophy

    Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Norton Schwartz recently announced that the 179th Fighter Squadron is the recipient of the 2008 Raytheon Trophy for its accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2008. The 179th Fighter Squadron is attached to the 148th Fighter Wing; a Minnesota-based Air National Guard

  • First UAS crews graduate from Holloman

    Eleven unmanned aircraft systems crews from the 432nd Operations Group, Det. 1 graduated during a ceremony at the Raptor's Nest Officers' Club April 10. Beginning Feb. 2, instructors at Holloman prepared 11 pilots and 11 sensor operators from a variety of aircraft platforms to support the overseas

  • Past meets present: WWII B-17 nav talks with B-1 pilots

    It's not every day that a 1933 Abilene High School graduate, who flew the first daylight bombing raid into Germany during World War II, stops by to visit with two bomber pilots of today. Mr. Paul Rehm (92), still decked out in his original 1942 aviator jacket from his unit in the war, got the

  • Moving Beyond the F-22

    (The following op ed was run in the Washington Post on Monday, April 13)The debate over whether to continue production of the F-22 Raptor has been one of the most politically charged and controversial budget issues in recent memory, spawning lobbying efforts that include contractor-sponsored

  • 9th MUNS improves following RIE

    Airman from the 9th Munitions Squadron hosted a Rapid Improvement Event March 30 thru April 3 as part of the Air Force Smart Operations of the 21 Century. The event was held to identify key issues with the mobility recovery bin process and to find plausible solutions to help resolve them. By lacking

  • JAG announces law school programs

    Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program will be accepted from January 1 through March 1, in 2010. Interested officers are encouraged to compete. "Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad

  • D-M Airman repeats as Air Force chess champion

    Tech. Sgt. Robert Keough from the 563rd Operations Support Squadron from Davis-Monthan won the 2009 Air Force Chess Tournament at Wright-Patterson AFB April 3 - his second consecutive victory at the service-wide competition and his fifth in the last eight years. "It feels great," he said. "Last

  • Gunfighters honor memory of security forces member

    Gunfighters paused to remember Tech. Sgt. Donald P. Stachum during a memorial service held in Hangar 1333 April 9. Sergeant Stachum was a member of the 366th Security Forces Squadron and passed away April 5. The incident is still under investigation. Sergeant Stachum enlisted in the Air Force in

  • Vice President breaks-up racquetball match

    When Air Force Two landed here April 1, Johnnie Webster and Staff Sgt. William Rudoff weren't sure they'd get a chance to see--let alone meet--the vice president. Neither of the two 4th Communications Squadron members were able to make it to the flightline as Vice President Joe Biden stepped off the

  • Military and civilian child-protection agencies train together at Shaw

    Shaw hosted a one-day training program: Protecting Our Children: A Comprehensive Training Program for Law Enforcement Professionals at the Carolina Skies Club April 7, 2009. Craig Hill, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, national director of crime prevention programs, provided the

  • The Bataan Death March

    On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers surrendered to Japanese forces and were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. This historical event is known as the Bataan Death March. For 16 years White Sands Missile Range has been the host site

  • CONR jets respond to stolen aircraft

    Synchronized efforts between military and civilian authorities April 6, led to the apprehension of a pilot who allegedly stole an airplane in Canada and landed it in the United States several hours later. The civilian aircraft departed Thunder Bay, Ontario without Navigation Canada authority and was

  • Teamwork ensures Thunderbird performance

    After inclement weather damaged five Thunderbird aircraft upon their arrival to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., for the base's air show -- a display of teamwork happened behind the scenes.  Airmen from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, and Air Force Materiel Command came

  • ACC selects best in JAG corps for 2008

    General John D.W. Corley, Commander, Air Combat Command, recently announced the winners of the following 2008 ACC JAG Corps awards.  These awards recognize individuals who, through their hard work and dedication, have served commanders and clients with the highest level of legal support.  ACC

  • Online plan helps Airmen chart their course

    The Air Force Portal is putting Airmen in control of their careers with the My Enlisted Development Plan, or myEDP. Although myEDP has been operational for two years, many Airmen aren't aware of it, or how it can impact their careers. Users can find myEDP under the career links category of Air Force

  • Global Hawk eclipses 30,000 flying hours

    On March 31 an RQ-4 Global Hawk took off to begin a 22-hour combat sortie and approximately two and a half hours into the flight, eclipsed the 30,000 hour mark for the Global Hawk program. The aircraft was assigned to the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as part of the 380th Air

  • MQ-1B Predator accident report released

    Pilot error caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, November 2, 2008, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today. The $4 million Predator, assigned to the 62nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 451st Air Expeditionary Group, was

  • Help available to servicemembers with mortgage problems

    Many programs are available for military members facing credit-wrecking foreclosures. The Homeowners Assistance Program - originally designed to protect servicemembers from real estate losses associated with base realignments and closures - has been extended to include losses associated with

  • Removal of old Dyess structures paves the way for future

    Dyess Civil Engineers are set to begin a demolition project of 13 structures starting April 6 lasting until Sept. 2. The five-month project will remove more than 90,000 square feet of existing real estate allowing the wing to conserve money that will no longer be spent on utilities for the

  • Fire prevention 101

    Some of the smallest things you may not think of or ignore can lead to a big fire, and all it takes is just a little prevention to avoid a disaster. Mistakes at the workplace can be costly especially small ones some Airmen ignore. The most common problem the Dyess Fire Department finds is a practice

  • New ABU process: an AFSO 21 event

    Both the 99th Contracting Squadron and the 99th Comptroller Squadron didn't come to physical blows per say, but they did have grave differences on who's responsible for correcting the inefficiencies with the Airman Battle Uniform procurement process for Nellis and Creech Airmen. Together, members

  • Stimulus finds way to Nellis

    The Department of Defense announced details for the spending of more than $20 million in benefits to Nellis as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The ARRA, which was signed by President Barack Obama Feb. 17, includes approximately $7.4 billion in defense-related appropriations;

  • Moody hosts combat rescue officer selection course

    Individuals from different military backgrounds endured a series of mental and physical challenges during phase two of the combat rescue officer selection course held at Moody March 22 to 27. The six-day course is designed to scale down the number of candidates before they are selected for the CRO

  • AFNORTH supports FEMA flood relief efforts

    Air Forces Northern is supporting the Federal  Emergency Management Agency and state and local authorities in North Dakota and Minnesota in response to the flood relief operations. AFNORTH has deployed two UH-1 helicopters to Grand Forks Air Force  Base, N.D., under the authority of the Air Force

  • AFAUX plays important role in ND floods

    Critical integration of efforts and resources has helped the citizens of North Dakota during the recent flooding that has hit that region in the past several days. Part of that interagency integration has been placed in the hands of the Air Force Auxiliary, the official federal aviation arm of the

  • Where 'Anchors Aweigh' meets Air Force Blue; USNS Comfort readies to embark

    More than 55 Air Force personnel will contribute to the medical, dental, veterinary, engineering and community relations missions of the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort on its four-month deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in support of Continuing Promise 2009. CP09 is a combined

  • Barksdale, 2d Bomb Wing welcome new commander

    Col. Steven Basham assumed command of the 2d Bomb Wing from Col. Robert Wheeler Monday at Hoban Hall. Colonel Wheeler arrived at Barksdale in July 2007. He will be stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., where he will serve as the B-2 bomber base's wing commander. While the Air Force is sending

  • Airmen encouraged to deter identity theft

    A few unlucky Airmen across the Air Force are experiencing one of the most aggravating and possibly fiscally damaging events a thief can do to them - identity theft. It can happen to anyone, anywhere. No one is excluded from the possibility of their identity from being stolen. It even happened to a

  • Exercise scenario "fires" up Shaw Airmen for ORI

    Shaw Airmen responded to a simulated out-of-control fire while working in the Emergency Operations Center during a phase II operational readiness exercise on Tuesday. Master Sgt. Adaly Lightsey, an exercise evaluation team member, placed a smoke machine in a back room of the EOC to simulate smoke

  • New dormitory opens at Shaw

    The highly anticipated new dormitory opened on Shaw during a ribbon cutting ceremony March 13. Col. Joseph Guastella, 20th Fighter Wing commander, the Sumter Mayor, Joseph McElveen and Airman 1st Class Lisa Riendeau, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron, did the honors of cutting the ribbon while 12

  • Army grips 2009 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships

    The Army dominated the mats to win 12 of 14 gold medals at the Armed Forces Wrestling Championships held March 14 and 15 at Mountain Home Air Force Base.The Army strong armed its way through the Greco-Roman rounds March 14, winning six of seven gold medals and continued to overwhelm competitors from

  • CSAF to Airmen: 'We are a family'

    Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz had a message for Airmen during an Airmen's Call here March 11: "We are a family and everyone in this room counts." "This is a big-tent Air Force," said General Schwartz. "In our business, you don't measure your worth by your proximity to the

  • JTF-B firefighters, medics respond to overturned fuel tanker

    Firefighters and medics from Joint Task Force-Bravo provided mutual aid assistance to the Comayagua Fire Department Friday when a fuel tanker overturned on C.A. 5 approximately eight kilometers north of the base. The tanker, carrying 11,000 gallons of butane gas, hit a horse on the road and

  • Killey, Arnold recognized at dedication ceremony

    More than 200 visiting dignitaries, guests and base personnel witnessed today's ceremony that honored two retired Air National Guard generals, which also marked the official opening of a new headquarters complex at Continental U.S. NORAD Region - 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) headquarters. The

  • Spring Spike Focus aimed at reducing motorcycle mishaps

    Many find motorcycles, in all their splendor and power, a lot of fun. With the proper training almost anyone can enjoy the wind in their face, the freedom of cruising the open road and the thrill that only riding a motorcycle can bring. However, riding a motorcycle can also be very dangerous. A

  • AF mourns the loss of first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

    Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Wesley Airey died March 11 in Panama City, Fla. "Chief Airey was an Airman's Airman and one of the true pioneers for our service," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff. "He was a warrior, an innovator... and a leader with vision well

  • Airmen ambassadors: Barksdale EWO brings gifts to Afghan children

    When Maj. Diana Delatorre, an electronic warfare officer working for the 2d Bomb Wing's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, left Barksdale for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008, her goal was to provide more than daily expertise on how to employ airborne electronic warfare assets in

  • Governor, state recognizes Louisiana veterans

    More than 250 veterans from all branches of the military were awarded the new Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in a ceremony held March 10 at Hoban Hall. The governor was present along with Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Lane Carlson, joined Maj. Gen. Floyd

  • EOD Airmen train for combat

    "Contact left! Contact left! Second vehicle is down... Two wounded... Fire! Fire! Fire!" Doors swing open along the three-vehicle convoy. Airmen dive out and take cover. Weapons bristle in 360 degrees. The firing begins and the teams somehow have to communicate with each other through the dust and

  • No one wins in office pools

    March Madness - it's one of the most exciting times of the year, but potentially a dangerous time for Airmen who are unaware of Department of Defense regulations regarding gambling. With the beginning of the NCAA basketball tournament, many will be creating brackets and betting money on their picks

  • 99th Medical Group continuously improves processes with AFSO21

    Ensuring patients receive the best possible care in the most timely manner is a priority for the 99th Medical Group at Nellis. The group's commander, Col. Christian Benjamin, said the concept of process improvement is an important part of the reason the group can efficiently and effectively

  • U.S. Customs & Border Protection AMOC director visits Tyndall

    Tony Crowder can't say enough good things about the Air Force―especially 1st Air Force. Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Riverside, Calif.-based Air and Marine Operations Center, Crowder described in glowing terms the ongoing working relationship between his Homeland Security

  • Train as we fight; Close Air Support SMEs integrated into Predator training

    As a highly requested air asset in theater, the Predator provides critical Close Air Support while working with a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in order to protect troops on the ground. The 11th Reconnaissance Squadron is the Formal Training Unit that conducts all Predator aircrew initial

  • F-16C ACCIDENT REPORT RELEASED

    Catastrophic engine failure caused an F-16C to crash on the flight line of Balad Air Base, Iraq, November 12, 2008, Air Combat Command officials announced today. According to the Accident Investigation Board report, the aircraft was initiating an afterburner takeoff when the second stage disk fan