By the time Retka returned to Spangdahlem as a group commander, he was viewed by some as a bully who had a tendency to mock, disparage or undermine his subordinates. Even as I speak, another female pilot from the 20th Fighter Wing is flying combat missions in the Middle East. Retka reportedly said, Yeah, whats your number? but apologized after being corrected by his wing commander. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help do away with the remnants of a culture that tolerated such behavior by leaders. But his family has lived in the region for 400 years and he refuses to be driven away even. Col. Peter M. Bilodeau was removed by Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of 3rd Air Force. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Bilodeau was relieved of command and Hubert, the wing vice commander, was again named interim commander. [26] On 9 November 2012, the 52nd OG set up a detachment (52nd OG Det 1) at ask Air Base in Poland. The wing includes about 5,000 military and civilian personnel, spread across nine sites in five countries. The video includes song, dance, repeated references to genitalia, a big penis and testicles puppet, and is based around discomfort of the male genitalia while flying on missions and a particular brand of talcum powder that is a solution to those issues. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing outgoing commander, renders his final salute to the 52nd FW during the wings change of command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Fighter Wing held a change of command ceremony at Hangar 1 here July 15. McFall received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993. [4] The squadron was deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, on 5 February 1966 as part of the USAF buildup in Southeast Asia. On 1 July 1958, the unit was redesignated the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (480th TFS). The former commander of the 52nd Operations Group at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany was disciplined after an investigation into accusations that he rubbed his crotch against the rear end of a lieutenant colonels wife at a dinner last year. October 2009 July 2011, Deputy Operations Group Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla. 11. Epperson, also an F-16 pilot, assumed command of the wing in September 2019. Born in Peoria, Ill., he graduated from DODEAs now-defunct Frankfurt American High School. Bilodeau has been immersing himself into the Spangdahlem community and learning first-hand about the many missions of the . 2022Recurrent Ventures. He is headed to. The base authorized a four-hour delay Wednesday night for personnel coming to work the next day, after rainfall over 12 hours equaled the average for the entire month of July. Bilodeau was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing, the release said. [10], The 480th TFS converted to the F-4D by May 1968. [13], In late 1990, the 480th TFS deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield before flying SEAD missions between 17 January and 11 April 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm. Criminal charges were not filed against Retka, Myers said. Col. Peter M. Bilodeau. Col. Anthony Retka, who was commander of the 52nd Operations Group at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, was disciplined with an administrative action after an investigation into allegations that. Retka, who took over the operations group in August 2017, was in his third year in command, and had already been planning to retire at Spangdahlem, Myers said. About 30 Spangdahlem families displaced by deadly floods in Germany [9], In November 1967, a member of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Capt. [24][25], In March 2012, the 480th deployed to Konya Air Base to take part in Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2012 with the Turkish Air Force, practising SEAD. The closure of Mildenhall is part of a sweeping reorganization of U.S. forces in Europe recommended by the Pentagon to consolidate infrastructure and save money. Shortly after publishing this piece, Colonel Derek 'Maestro' O'Malley gave us an exclusive and unprecedented in-depth interview in which we discuss the Gold Bon video, making mistakes, achieving redemption, and becoming a better leader because of it, as well as what goes into making a disciplinary decision for an Airman that has fallen into trouble. 2023 Stars and Stripes. Were looking forward to another amazing season with this team. [28][29] The pilots who did not deploy were effected by the 2013 United States budget sequestration which led to a loss of multiple flying currencies, these weren't regained until August 2013 when flying resumed. Oink, oink. Lieutenant general belittled staff, mocked female airmans weight, IG found. In December 1971, it became the host wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and inherited tactical squadrons from the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at nearby Bitburg Air Base. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Bilodeau, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, flew F-16s at Spangdahlem for nearly three years in the late 1990s, when he served as an instructor pilot and assistant chief of weapons for the 23rd Fighter Squadron. Col. Anthony Retka, former commander of the 52nd Operations Group at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, passes the guidon to incoming 480th Fighter Squadron Lt. Col. Patrick Kennedy during a change of command ceremony on July 3, 2019. The 52nd Fighter Wing includes more than 5,500 military and civilian personnel who help maintain and deploy the units F-16 fighters and other military hardware. Just my opinion but good leadership includes being open and honest in decision making. Myers said the administrative action was taken only in response to the dinner incident, not the other incidents described to OSI. Shes a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Finally the Spangdahlem Command Post is accessible 24/7 and can be reached at DSN: 314-452-6141 or Comm: 011-49-6565-61-6141. I'm going to guess he failed a PT test. Hauck will be taking command over the 52nd Fighter Wing, which has a total population of 5,000 Airmen and civilian personnel. You delivered on each and every priority at an astonishing pace, Epperson said. IG found former academy commandant misused travel, had poor command John covers U.S. military activities across Europe and Africa. [23] Returning in November, the 480th FS were the last fighter unit to support Operation New Dawn. Her husband told investigators that Retka approached the group directly behind his wife and stood crowded subway close to her, which he described as awkward. 0 0 Less than a minute. Units - Spangdahlem Air Base Community for current and past members of the US Air Force. Two months later, he took command of Spangdahlems 480th Fighter Squadron, under Retkas command. [12], On 19 September 1985, the history of the 480th Bombardment Squadron and 480th Air Resupply Squadron was consolidated with the existing 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron which had first formed in 1957. He was now working directly for Retka. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. Leslie Hauck, 52nd Fighter Wing incoming commander, gives his first remarks during the 52nd FW Change of Command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. [10] The reformed squadron retained the primary SEAD role of its previous incarnation. 480th Fighter Squadron - Wikipedia Shes had previous assignments for Stars and Stripes in Japan, reporting from Yokota and Misawa air bases. [8] From here, the Warhawks carried out operations over North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos. The unit is based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Spangdahlem Wing commander relieved of command Wing commanders put on their star halfway through their two year stunt like clockwork from what I've witnessed. Pentagon officials announced earlier this month that Spangdahlem would gain about 10 CV-22 Ospreys and 10 MC-130J aircraft, together with associated personnel from the 352nd Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. I do find it weird that he has been pulled from the global, and his official bio was pulled before that press release went out. USAFE said Retka chose to retire several months earlier than expected. Spangdahlem Air Base - Home - Facebook EC commander tours Ramstein, Spangdahlem Air Force officials in Europe said at the time that. The video features song, dance, lots of talcum powder, and a big male genitalia puppet. Spangdahlem fighter wing changes command as heavy flooding strikes Col. Peter M. Bilodeau. Melody W. Howley). 2023 Stars and Stripes. Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Officials OK some hand and neck tattoos for airmen, Guardians, Perennial pilot shortage puts Air Force in precarious position, Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses, The impossible choice facing many of Americas military families, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Another Air Force fleet grounded over fears plane tails may fall off, Pentagon orders engine vibration fix for entire F-35 fleet worldwide, Minot firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection, Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. Emergency Assistance Associated . Browse or search for Major Units at Spangdahlem AB. Home/how to remove temporary spray adhesive from fabric/ spangdahlem commander fired. Melody W. Howley), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing outgoing commander, makes his final remarks during the 52nd FW Change of Command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Before saluting the Airmen of the 52nd FW for one last time as its commander, Epperson praised the Sabers for their hard work throughout his nearly two years at the helm. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware. It thrust me forward.. May 1997 September 1998, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla. 3. [20][21] They flew their first sortie on 21 March 2011, tasked with SEAD. [9] Post-Desert Storm, the squadron's F-4Gs were transferred over to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron leaving the 480th as a sole F-16 unit. After assuming command, Hauck told his airmen: I know we are going to face trial and tribulations, but we will continue to conquer them and be 100% mission ready.. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes). Col. Peter M. Bilodeau, who assumed command of the wing in July, was removed by 3rd Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, according to a U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa release. 210320-F-LH638-1120. Hubert has been vice commander since July 2013. Spangdahlem's F-16s aren't leaving Germany for Italy just yet Bilodeau, who was removed by Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of the 3rd Air Force, was not relieved for any misconduct or wrongdoing, according to USAFE. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany An experienced fighter pilot who flew combat sorties in Iraq and Afghanistan is the new commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing. The 52nd FW commander oversees all five of the wings groups, who directly support the mission to provide strategic, theater and contract commercial air mobility capability for Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. This was made years before she served in the same squadron. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Log InSign Up User account menu 28 Spangdahlem bringing back former vice wing commander In 1979, the Warhawks converted to the F-4E Phantom II. U.S. Air Force Tech. Witnesses also told OSI investigators that while at Kunsan, Retka once placed a much smaller pilot who became extremely intoxicated as part of a squadron initiation rite and drunkenly tackled Retka in a chokehold and refused to let go. She is a 2011. fairport senior ball 2020 spangdahlem commander fired. [22] On 2 May 2011, the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn. The U.S. Army said another nearly 1,300 people were missing as of Monday. My primary focus remains on motivational mission accomplishment, compassionate care of airmen and their families, and the drive to constantly improve and innovate.. The squadron relocated to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base on 21 December 1962, where they remained until 1963 when the squadron was withdrawn from France upon request of French government, due to disagreements over the basing of nuclear-weapon capable F-100 Super Sabres on French soil. Col. David Epperson, left, the 52nd Fighter Wing's outgoing commander, and Col. Leslie Hauck, the incoming commander, listened to opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Randall Reed, 3rd Air Force commander, during the wing's change of command ceremony July 15, 2021, on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Spangdahlem AB Avionics Flight gets vital system back in the sky Air Force Brothers in Arms Reunited After 15 Years Air Force Headlines US Department of Defense delivers field hospital to Trkiye DAF establishes policies to increase access to non-covered reproductive health care DAF hosts 3rd Virtual Women's Air and Space Power Symposium Off-duty time is for: During my time off, my wife and I like to run, bike and travel. Roberson announced the appointment of Col. Lars R. Hubert, 52nd Fighter Wing vice commander, as interim wing commander until a replacement can assume full-time duties. All Rights Reserved. The 52nd MSG supports the mission of the 52nd Fighter Wing and more than 9,000 Airmen stationed at Spangdahlem. Witnesses also revealed that in 2004, while he was a captain deployed to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, Retka engaged in a prank called steamrolling, barging naked into sleeping pilots dorm rooms and rolling over them in bed until they woke up. And the time when it was OK to pinch someones butt or rub up against someone or make a derogatory or misogynistic comment, I really want to see those days go away and be behind us.. USAF's First Female F-16 Demo Pilot Relieved of Command After Only Two
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