Last of Combat Talons retire to Arizona desert

A loadmaster with the 919th Special Operations Wing admires an MC-130E Combat Talon I in flight one last time April 15 before it and three other Talons are retired to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Reserve Snapshot

Three F-22 Raptors land at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The Raptors were flown by Reserve pilots assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron during a recent 477th Fighter Group monthly training weekend. During the week, the 477th, Alaska’s only Reserve unit, integrates with the active-duty 3rd Wing. (Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)

The Drone Rangers: Organizations wrap up effort to turn old F-4s into full-scale target drones

Lt. Col. Michael Leach (left) and Mr. Richard Nelson step out of an F-4 Phantom after its second flight test Feb. 12. (Staff Sgt. Sarah Pullen)

The Drone Rangers: Organizations wrap up effort to turn old F-4s into full-scale target drones

F-4 Phantoms rest in the "boneyard" at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. In a few months, the 309th will begin regenerating F-16 Fighting Falcons as part of the Air Force drone program. (Master Sgt. Luke Johnson)

Reserve Snapshot

The boom on a 507th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker is at the ready as an E-3 Sentry from the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron prepares to gain elevation in order to start an aerial refueling training mission over the cloudy skies of St. Louis. Both the 507th and 966th are located at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

Reserve Snapshot

As a result of winter storm Nemo, 20 inches of snow covered Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and its C-5s between Feb. 8 and 10. Massachusetts declared a state of emergency, and Gov. Duvall Patrick initiated the first driving ban since the blizzard of 1978. (Senior Airman Kelly Galloway)

Reserve Snapshot

More than a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., passed through Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., recently as they made their way overseas. Westover's long runways, ample ramp space and geographic location make it an ideal stopover for military units on their way overseas. (Senior Airman Kelly Galloway)

Reserve Snapshot

In response to President Obama's call for the government to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, a C-5B from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., flew to March ARB, Calif., picked up 73 electrical workers and two utility trucks, and dropped them off at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., hours later. Other Air Force Reserve Command units participating in the relief effort included the 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; the 433rd AW, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; the 446th AW, McChord Field, Wash.; and 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB. (Senior Airman Kelly Galloway)

Reserve Snapshot

During Arctic Thunder Open House 2012 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, an F-22 takes off and flies past the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. (Tech. Sgt Dana Rosso)

Reserve Snapshot

Team Travis practices the combat capability of safely and swiftly launching a large number of aircraft in a matter of minutes. The mass launch's close-interval procession of 12 taxiing aircraft is called an "elephant walk," a World War II Army Air Corps term evoking a parade of pachyderms. The launch of six KC-10A Extenders, three C-17 Globemaster IIIs and three C-5 Galaxies provided essential training across the spectrum of mobility capabilities, including flight operations, operations support, aircraft maintenance, fuels and air traffic control. (Lt. Col. Robert Couse-Baker)

Artist commissioned to create Global Hawk lithograph

Master Sgt. Douglas Kinsley photographs the RQ-4 Global Hawk during the research phase for a lithograph he will produce for the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. (Senior Airman Adam Hamar)

Reserve Snapshot

Guy Bretches, an A-10 jet mechanic assigned to the 917th Maintenance Squadron, pulls clamps off a TF34 jet engine in the 917th Propulsion Shop at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Bretches is conducting an inspection of engine parts to look for damage that might have occurred during an alternative fuel certification process. (Master Sgt. Jeff Walston)

445th AW’s last C-5 leaves Ohio for new home in Arizona desert

The last of 10 C-5 Galaxy aircraft assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing takes off from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, headed for the Arizona desert at Davis-Monthan AFB. The Galaxies were replaced by the C-17 Globemaster III, lined up in the foreground.

Reserve Snapshot

Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lewis, a refueling boom operator assigned to the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., peers down at the receiving aircraft from the boom pod of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling flight.

Fueling the Total Force: Fuels specialists work behind the scenes to keep aircraft flying

Throughout good weather and bad, in all kinds of environments and conditions, Air Force Reserve Command's cadre of fuels specialists safely, professionally and enthusiastically top off thousands of aircraft each year.

Fueling the Total Force: Fuels specialists work behind the scenes to keep aircraft flying

An A-10 Thunderbolt II is refueled on the flight line at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. More than 60 million gallons of fuel is dispensed annually throughout Air Force Reserve Command.

Reserve Snapshot

Senior Airman Steven Klepeisz, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, washes the tail section of a C-17 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, recently. (Staff Sgt. Amanda Duncan)

Reserve Snapshot

A KC-135R from the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., flies over Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as part of pre-game ceremonies before the Carolina Panthers’ home-opener against the Green Bay Packers. (Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote, 916ARW/PA)

'Wild Thing' aircraft comes home to Hurlburt Field as historic monument

“Wild Thing” sits ready at Gowen Field, Idaho, to make its final flight to Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 7, 2010. The historic aircraft was retired and placed at the Hurlburt Field airpark May 6. The Talon had a 46-year Air Force career and recorded a total of 21,336.5 flight hours. (Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr.)

Reserve Snapshot

Flying a KC-135 Stratotanker borrowed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., a crew from the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., refuels an F-35 Lightning II, the Air Force’s newest joint strike fighter. The 916th was the first wing in Air Force Reserve Command or Air Mobility Command to refuel the F-35.

Preserving History: Airmen restore aircraft to its former glory

Airmen tow a C-118 Liftmaster from its position as a static display near the passenger terminal at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Oct. 23, 2009. The aircraft is being resurfaced with environmentally friendly paints and will be put back on display by the end of summer. (Tech. Sgt. Shawn J. Jones)

Working on Two Fronts: Aerial firefighting unit performs real-world, training missions at the same time

A Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules prepares to drop fire retardant onto a West Texas wildfire.While some MAFFS crews were fighting fires in Texas, others were undergoing recertification training in Boise, Idaho. (Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

The Operational Reserve: A new Department of Defense efficiency?

As the military looks to the reserve components to provide efficiency and cost-effective manning solutions during tight financial times, more changes are on the horizon for the Air Force Reserve.

Something Great Happening at Seymour Johnson: Total force integration has taken hold at North Carolina base

A KC-135R from the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., refuels an F-15E during a recent training mission. The 916th is pushing the status quo envelope in its active association partnership with the regular Air Force’s 911th Air Refueling Squadron. (Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller)