Dedicated crew chiefs can now put their names on Air Mobility Command aircraft for the first time in about 20 years, thanks to a push from the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dover AFB, Del. The policy change, effective Sept. 17, lets dedicated and assistant dedicated crew chiefs for C-5s, C-17s, C-130s, KC-10s, and KC-135s paint their names on their aircraft. Names must be removed only when aircraft will be deployed to war zones for longer than 14 days, according to AMC. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.

B-52s from Barksdale AFB, La., flew to RAF Fairford, England, this week for a bomber task force deployment. The deployment of bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing is the latest in a series of bomber rotations to Europe, and follows last month’s deployment of B-52s from Barksdale’s 307th Bomb Wing to Fairford for an exercise. While in England, the 2nd BW B-52s will conduct “integration and interoperability training” with allies in the region, according to an Air Force Global Strike Command release. The deployment is the latest in a series for B-52s overall, as the bombers carry the load for Global Strike Command as B-1s continue to face readiness struggles. B-52s are currently deployed to Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, with another B-52 rotation expected from Barksdale in the near future to replace Minot B-52s currently in Guam for the continuous bomber presence mission. —Brian Everstine

The XQ-58A Valkyrie experimental “wingman” drone was damaged upon landing after its third flight,1 on Oct. 9. The Valkyrie, produced by Kratos in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, is part of AFRL’s Low Cost Attritable Strike Demonstration Program. During a 90-minute flight at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the aircraft met its test objectives, including flying faster and at a higher altitude than previous flights. However, after landing, high surface winds combined with a malfunction of the aircraft’s provisional flight test recovery system caused a mishap, the service said in an Oct. 10 release. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.

An active duty Green Beret will receive the Medal of Honor later this month for his actions during a 2008 battle in Afghanistan in which he is credited with saving the lives of four soldiers and preventing his team from being overrun. MSgt. Matthew Williams was deployed to Afghanistan with Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force-33, when his team came under fire. While rescuing other members of the assault element and evacuating multiple casualties, Williams faced rocket-propelled grenades and sniper and machine gun fire, according to the White House announcement. He led an Afghan Commando element across a river to fight up a mountain, setting up a base of fire the enemy could not overcome. Williams aided his team sergeant who was wounded by a sniper, helping him down the steep mountainside to a casualty collection point. He then climbed up the cliff, exposing himself to enemy fire to move more casualties to the collection point, and then loaded the wounded onto helicopters, according to the announcement. Williams, who still serves in the Army at Fort Bragg, N.C., will receive the award during an Oct. 30 White House ceremony. —Brian Everstine

A special tactics pararescueman died Oct. 8 in a training incident while practicing mountain rescues in Idaho. TSgt. Peter Kraines, 33, was assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing. He sustained injuries while practicing rescue techniques on mountains near Boise, the Air Force announced Oct. 10. The service did not expand on the incident. “This is a tragic loss  to the special tactics community,” 24th SOW Commander Col. Matthew Allen said in the release. “We are grateful for the support from our community and our (Air Force Special Operations Command) teammates. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates at this time.” Kraines joined the Air Force in 2011, and had previously been assigned to the 347th Rescue Group at Moody AFB, Ga., before joining special tactics and being assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. —Brian Everstine

The 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, is expected to resume flying operations next week following the Oct. 8 crash of an F-16 near the base. Wing leadership after the crash halted flying operations “to provide space to respond to the incident,” the base said in an Oct. 10 statement. At about 3 p.m. local time, an F-16 from the 480th Fighter Squadron crashed during a routine training sortie, going down near the town of Zemmer. The pilot was able to eject, sustained minor injuries, and was released from a local hospital the same day. —Brian Everstine