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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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13th Air Force gets new role and 3-star commander
Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback, deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces, assumed command of 13th Air Force Friday from Maj. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr. at ceremonies held at Hickam Air Force Base. Rice will assume duties as PACAF vice commander.
Previously a management headquarters, 13th Air Force is now one of 10 organizations designed to enhance the operational level support, planning, command, control and execution of air, space and information capabilities across the range of military operations in the U.S. Pacific Command, except for the Korea theater of operations.
The command, which can trace its origins to World War II, moved to Hickam from Guam last year. From 1943 to 1945, the 13th Air Force worked from jungles on more than 40 islands in the Pacific, earning the nickname "The Jungle Air Force."
In 1948, its headquarters was established in the Philippines. It was forced to move from Clark Air Base in the Philippines in June 1991 when Mount Pinatubo erupted and forced the closure of the Air Force installation. More than 650 military and civilian personnel are assigned to the 13th Air Force at Hickam.
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The 25-story Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which left Pearl Harbor Aug. 7 for sea trials, is back in Hawaii for up to six weeks of maintenance work. The radar dome and platform spent July 23 through Aug. 7 at Pearl Harbor the last time it was here. The platform is supposed to be stationed in Alaska.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.