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  • Former Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Walter "A-Train" Dryden passed away June 24 in Atlanta, GA from natural causes. Col. Dryden, pictured, visited with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" of the Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing in 2005 in the wake of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Atlanta chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen donated money to the Katrina Relief Fund of the 403rd Wing. Dryden is survived by his wife, three sons and five grandchildren.

    Friend of the Reserve, Legend Passes

    Lt. Col. Charles Walker Dryden, aviation legend of the Tuskegee Airmen, died June 24, 2008 of natural causes at the age of 87 in Atlanta, Ga. As boy, he dreamed of flying planes and learned to fly before he could drive a car, but the color of his skin almost kept him from realizing his dream. Colonel Dryden's determination led him to his
  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Lt. Col. Louis Patriquin (right) takes the reigns as the new commander for the 403rd Operations Group at a change of command ceremony held Saturday of the June Unit Training Assembly, replacing Col. Jay Jensen, who will be commanding the 315th Operations Group at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Before joining the 403rd Wing, Colonel Patriquin served as the deputy commander for the 512th Operations Group, Dover AFB, Del. The colonel stressed the need for reservists to focus on the Air Force mission, especially in this day and age when "the eyes of American are truly upon us." He believes that our Citizen Airman can better accomplish this goal by putting three main points into practice: taking care of our families, keeping our employers informed, and embracing the professions we choose to pursue in the Reserve. "The beauty of the Air Force Reserve is that we are here because we want to be here," said Patriquin. "It is our choice, and one that we should embrace." (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)

    New Ops Commander Takes Charge

  • Col. Terry L. Ross, 11th Wing vice commander, speaks to an Indiana, Penn., crowd during a Jimmy Stewart Centenniel Celebration May 24. The famed actor flew bombing missions in World War II and became a brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dan DeCook)

    An Angel Gets Its Wings - 403rd Flyover Honors Jimmy Stewart

    Bolling Air Force Base and Air Force Reserve Command members participated in a centennial celebration May 24 in General Stewart's hometown of Indiana, Pa. which was capped off with a flyover by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" of the 403rd Wing.Actor James M. Stewart was a Hollywood legend who flew bomber missions with
  • Captain Mark Suckow, pilot for the 815th Airlift Squadron "Flying Jennies" waves the flag upon his return from the desert. The Flying Jennies and the "Spirit of Biloxi" aircraft returned home from the desert May 19. While deployed, the Jennies provided combat-multiplying capabilities to resupply forces, improved combatant commanders' airlift requirements and employment operations within the combat zone or forward areas, and when requested, provided aeromedical evacuation and augmented strategic airlift forces. Aircrews from the Air Force Reserve's 815th Airlift Squadron joined maintainers from the 403rd Maintenance Group and personnel from several support functions including Communications, Intelligence and others for the unit's second combat mission in Southwest Asia. U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett

    Flying Jennies Return From the Desert

  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Presenting the nieces of 2nd Lt. Samuel Reeves Keesler with a commemorative photo of the newly dedicated Spirit of Keesler WC-130J aircraft is Brig. Gen. Richard Moss, commander, 403rd Wing. Among the family members and descendants of Lieutenant Keesler who attended the ceremony were (from left) Clara Wise-Wolf, Charlot Morrison and Isabel Miller. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)

    Wing Dedicates "Spirit of Keesler"

    A ceremony celebrating 35,000 hours flown by the 403rd Wing in the C-130J aircraft and the dedication of a WC-130J 'Hurricane Hunter' plane as the "Spirit of Keesler" was held here April 22. Brig. Gen. Richard Moss, commander, 403rd Wing, presided over the ceremony, which recognized the special bond between his Air Force Reserve unit, the active
  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Adrian Cronauer, best known as the inspiration for the character of the same name played by Robin Williams in the film "Good Morning, Vietnam" speaks with Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Mr. Cronauer attended the Reserve unit's Commander's Call to speak to Airmen about theDefense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office where he works as the Special Assistant to the Director. He emphasized that the United States military strives to never leave a man behind. (USAF Photo/Tech.Sgt. James B. Pritchett)

    “Good Morning, Vietnam’s” Adrian Cronauer Speaks To Reservists

    Former U.S. Air Force sergeant, Adrian Cronauer, whose life was the inspiration for the major motion picture, Good Morning, Vietnam!, spoke to Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing Sunday at the unit's quarterly Commander's Call. Mr. Cronauer is now Special Assistant to the Director of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office and serves as a
  • KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.-- Master Sgt, Rafael Gonzalez kisses his son goodbye before boarding a C-130J-30 bound for Southwest Asia in support of the Global War on Terror. Sergeant Gonzalez is a client support technician assigned to the 403rd Communications Flight. The 403rd Wing deployed two of its tactical airlift aircraft assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron along with more than 60 Citizen Airmen this morning. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett)

    Flying Jennies Deploy to Support Global War on Terror

    It was dark and frigid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this morning as Citizen Airmen began arriving at the Keesler Deployment Facility ready to deploy in support of the Global War on Terror. Aircrews from the Air Force Reserve's 815th Airlift Squadron joined maintainers from the 403rd Maintenance Group and personnel from several support functions
  • Tech. Sgt. Derrick Cooley on the left and Master Sgt. Neil Sherman escort Airman Andy, the 403rd Wing recruiting mascot, off the ice at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Airman Andy participated in the mascot 'ice hockey' game between periods at the Mississippi Seawolves and Charlotte Checkers hockey game. Andy scored the winning goal and walked away to a standing ovation on Air Force Reserve Appreciation Night. The Seawolves went on to shut-out the Checkers 1-0. (Air Force Photo by Major Chad E. Gibson)

    'Above All' on the Ice

  • Maj. Jesse K. Pearson, III (U.S. Air Force Photo)

    Operations Officer Recognized for Leadership

    When the men and women of the 96th Aerial Port Squadron hear the call "Air Power!" echo through the halls of their work centers, they know Operations Officer, Maj. Jesse K. Pearson, III is nearby. Earlier this year, the Major with the booming battle cry was awarded the Major General Alice Astafan Air Force Reserve Component Logistics Readiness
  • A C-130J-30 takes off from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. The aircraft and crew deployed in support of Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom in December of 2004.

    Flying Jennies Return to Action

    The Air Force Reserve's 815th Airlift Squadron "Flying Jennies" and the "Spirit of Biloxi" return to Southwest Asia in support of the Global War on Terrorism starting in March. "Four years ago, we completed a record-setting event by deploying the J-model in combat and now we are again called upon to serve our nation by taking the battle-proven
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