Appearance
🎉 your bitcoin🥳
"Altus Air Force Base (Altus AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma. The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force (19 AF) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The wing's mission is to provide C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus formal initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3,000 flight crew and aircraft maintenance students annually. Altus AFB was established in 1943 as Altus Army Airfield (AAF). The 97 AMW commander is Colonel Matthew A. Leard. The Vice Commander is Colonel William B. Mickley III. The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Randy Kay II. Role and operations The 97 AMW consists of the following major units: *25px 97th Operations Group :Plans and executes C-17 and KC-135 formal school, initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3000 students annually. Sustains Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus airland, airdrop and air refueling mobility forces, providing global reach for combat and contingency operations. Provides air traffic control and weather forecasting for flying operations. * 97th Mission Support Group :Provides mission, infrastructure, and community quality of life support for personnel and all assigned organizations on Altus AFB. Supports worldwide USAF taskings with deployment ready personnel and equipment. *97th Maintenance Directorate :Provides maintenance and support to all assigned aircraft and provides the same maintenance support to transient aircraft, engines and associated ground equipment. To provide backshop support to all three aircraft while continuously improving environmental awareness and effectively managing maintenance resources, allowing the 97th Air Mobility Wing to perform its aircrew training mission. *97th Medical Group :Ensures maximum wartime readiness and combat capability by promoting the health, safety and morale of active duty personnel. Staffs, trains, mobilizes and provides medical services in support of contingency operations worldwide. Develops and operates a prevention-oriented, cost-effective managed healthcare system for over 9,500 people. Based units Flying and notable non-flying units based at Altus Air Force Base. = United States Air Force = Air Education and Training Command (AETC) * Nineteenth Air Force **97th Air Mobility Wing *** Headquarters 97th Air Mobility Wing *** 97th Comptroller Squadron *** 97th Operations Group **** 54th Air Refueling Squadron – KC-135R Stratotanker **** 56th Air Refueling Squadron – KC-46A Pegasus **** 58th Airlift Squadron – C-17A Globemaster III **** 97th Operations Support Squadron **** 97th Training Squadron *** 97th Maintenance Group **** 97th Maintenance Squadron **** 97th Maintenance Operations Flight **** 97th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron *** 97th Medical Group **** 97th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron **** 97th Healthcare Operations Squadron *** 97th Mission Support Group **** 97th Civil Engineer Squadron **** 97th Communications Squadron **** 97th Contracting Flight **** 97th Force Support Squadron **** 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron **** 97th Security Forces Squadron History =Postwar era= The base became operational on January 1943, training new pilots on multi-engine aircraft. The primary training aircraft were the Cessna AT-17 Bobcat and the Curitss-Wright AT-9 Jeep. At the end of hostilities in Europe, Altus AAF was inactivation and on 15 May 1945 placed on temporary inactive status. Between 1945 and 1953, Altus AFB served as a scrap yard for hundreds of World War II era military aircraft. In 1945 the famous B-17F "Memphis Belle" was discovered at Altus awaiting disposal. The aircraft was saved and transferred to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, where it was displayed until 2005, when it was relocated to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. =Cold War= The base sat idle for only a few years. The onset of the Korean War in June 1950 created the need for more men to fly and service aircraft. During the early years of the conflict, many World War II airfields were examined for reactivation. On 1 August 1953, Altus Air Force Base was reactivated as a training base for transport aircraft. The C-47 "Skytrain" and the C-45 "Expediter" were the main aircraft assigned to the base, run briefly by the 63d Troop Carrier Wing from 8 January until 15 October 1953 under the watch of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). During the 1950s, the base underwent many changes and changed hands from TAC to the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Later that year, on 18 November, the 96th Bombardment Wing, Medium (96 BMW), arrived and began operations with three bomber squadrons and one air refueling squadron. The squadrons eventually flew the first all jet-engined bomber, the B-47 Stratojet and the KC-97 Stratofreighter, a dual-purpose cargo and air- refueling aircraft. By the end of the decade, both of these aircraft would be replaced by aircraft still in the Air Force inventory, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the B-52 Stratofortress. The KC-135 was the first all jet-engined air- refueling aircraft and the B-52 still remains the backbone of the USAF bomber fleet. When the 96th BW moved to Dyess AFB, Texas, the 11th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) activated and stood on alert during the Cold War. June 1961 witnessed the activation of twelve Atlas “F” intercontinental ballistic missile sites within a 40-mile radius of the base. Controlled by the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron, the missiles sat inside a silo, constructed underground with a launch facility, and manned around the clock. The missile silos became operational on 10 October 1962, but the activation would be short-lived. By April 1965, the Atlas missile was outdated and was phased out of the national strategic defense plan. In August 1966, the 4th Mobile Communications Group transferred from Hunter AFB, Georgia, to Altus. The unit's mission consisted of providing mobile and transportable communication services, aiding navigation and air traffic control throughout the world. In 1967, the Air Force began searching for a base that could handle the training for its strategic airlift fleet, the C-141 Starlifter and its newest and largest transport aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy. Again, Oklahoma proved to be well suited for the mission. The Military Airlift Command (MAC) assumed command of the base from SAC and activated the 443d Military Airlift Wing (443 MAW), Training, to assume host wing responsibilities and to fly alongside the SAC aircraft that would become a tenant command at Altus. By the start of the 1970s, Altus AFB had three aircraft type/models assigned: KC-135s, C-141s, and C-5s. For the KC-135 aircraft at Altus still under SAC's control, the USAF activated the 340th Air Refueling Wing, which continued to operate the base's KC-135s. =Modern era= The post Cold War environment brought many changes to Altus AFB. On 1 June 1992, the Air Force reorganized and the Military Airlift Command (MAC) disestablished. In its place the new Air Mobility Command (AMC) was activated, which placed MAC's strategic and tactical airlift aircraft and SAC's aerial refueling aircraft under a single command. Second, the 443d Airlift Wing and the 340th Air Refueling Wing were inactivated, with the latter's aircraft transferred to the 19th Air Refueling Wing (19 ARW) at Robins AFB, Georgia. On 1 October, the first Air Mobility Wing (AMW), the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), arrived at Altus without personnel or equipment, having formerly been designated as SAC's 97th Bombardment Wing and having been transferred from the deactivating Eaker AFB, Arkansas as a result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. The 97 AMW was tasked with flight crew formal training unit (FTU) responsibilities for the C-141 and C-5 aircrew, and with the closure of Castle AFB, California due to BRAC action, concurrently assumed FTU responsibilities for KC-135E/R/T flight crews. On 1 July 1993, the 97th was transferred from AMC to the newly established Air Education and Training Command (AETC) as part of a USAF initiative to move most FTU activities to AETC. More changes were on the horizon. In 1996, the latest addition to Altus AFB, the new C-17 Globemaster III, arrived. Even before its arrival, the base began training pilots and loadmasters to operate and fly the aircraft. In August 2002, the mission of the wing grew when the Air Force moved the basic loadmaster course from Sheppard AFB, Texas, to Altus. This initiative combined similar training programs to reduce the number of moves required by trainees while cutting overall costs. Additionally, during that same month, the wing reorganized as a "combat wing": the 97th Support Group became the 97th Mission Support Group, gaining the new 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron (comprising the former 97th Supply Squadron, 97th Transportation Squadron and logistics plans flight) and the 97th Contracting Squadron. Also, the 97th Logistics Group inactivated and the 97th Maintenance Directorate was activated. The directorate comprises civil-service personnel, who are responsible for the care and maintenance of all three airframes at the base. The 97 AMW discontinued FTU responsibilities for the C-141 concurrent with that aircraft's retirement from the USAF inventory in 2006. On 1 July 2007, the Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC) 433d Airlift Wing (433 AW) at Lackland AFB/Kelly Field (former Kelly AFB) assumed responsibility for all flying training and academic training for the C-5 aircraft for all Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) aircrews, leaving the 97 AMW and Altus to concentrate on C-17 and KC-135 training for AMC, USAFE, PACAF, AFRC and ANG aircrews. =Previous names= * Established on 17 June 1942 as: AAF Advanced Flying School, Altus, Oklahoma * Altus Army Airfield, 8 April 1943 * AAF Pilot School (Advanced TE), Altus Army Airfield, 6 August 1943 – 23 April 1946 * Inactivated 23 April 1946 – 3 March 1953 * Altus Air Force Base, 3 March 1953 – present =Major commands to which assigned= * AAF Gulf Coast Training Cen, 26 June 1942 * AAF Central Flying Training Comd, 31 July 1943 * AAF Technical Service Comd, 16 May 1945 * Air Technical Service Comd, 1 July 1945 – 9 March 1946 * Tactical Air Command, 11 June 1952 * Strategic Air Command, 21 June 1954 * Military Airlift Command, 1 July 1968 * Air Mobility Command, 1 October 1992 * Air Education and Training Command, 1 July 1993 – present =Base operating units= * 453rd Base HQ and Air Base Squadron, 6 October 1942 – 1 May 1944 * 2508th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School), 1 May 1944 – 16 May 1945 * 4124th AAF Base Unit, 16 May – 13 December 1945 * 63d Air Base Group, 8 January 1953 * 4037th Air Base Group, 15 October 1953 – 18 November 1953 * 96th Air Base Group, 18 November 1953 * 11th Combat Support Gp, 1 March 1959 – 8 July 1968 * 443rd Air Base (later Combat Support) Group, 8 July 1968 * 97th Mission Support Group 1 October 1992 – present =Major units assigned= * Army Air Force Pilot School (Advanced Training), 26 June 1942 – 15 May 1945 * 4124 Army Air Force Base Unit, 15 May 1945 – 13 December 1945 * 63d Troop Carrier Wing, 8 January 1953 – 14 October 1953 * 96th Bombardment Wing, 18 November 1953 – 7 September 1957 * 11th Bombardment Wing, 13 December 1957 – 25 March 1969 * 340th Air Refueling Wing, 1 July 1977 – 1 October 1992 * 443d Military Airlift Wing, Training, 5 May 1969 – 1 October 1992 * 97th Air Mobility Wing 1 October 1992 – present * Jackson County Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol =SM-65F Atlas Missile Sites= SM-65F Atlas Missile silos The 577th Strategic Missile Squadron operated twelve missile sites, of one missile at each site: * 577–1 2.2 mi NNE of Lugert, OK * 577–2 3.8 mi SSE of Cambridge, OK * 577–3 0.8 mi SE of Mountain Park, OK * 577–4 2.1 mi WSW of Cache, OK * 577–5 4.0 mi NNE of Manitou, OK * 577–6 2.2 mi NNE of Frederick, OK * 577–7 4.8 mi SE of Ranchland, TX * 577–8 0.6 mi NE of Creta, OK * 577–9 3.7 mi NNW of Gould, OK * 577–10 6.2 mi SW of Mangum, OK * 577–11 1.0 mi NE of Willow, OK * 577–12 2.7 mi WSW of Granite, OK Note: The missile at the Frederick, OK, site exploded in May 1964. See also * List of United States Air Force installations * Oklahoma World War II Army Airfields * 33d Flying Training Wing (World War II) References Other sources Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ). * Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. . * Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989 * Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004. * Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC * Altus AFB Website External links * Altus Air Force Base, Official Site * Altus Force Support, Official Site for the Force Support Squadron * Altus AFB Installation Overview from AirForceUSA.org * Altus Air Force Base at GlobalSecurity.org * Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Altus Air Force Base Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Oklahoma Category:1942 establishments in Oklahoma Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Oklahoma Category:Buildings and structures in Jackson County, Oklahoma Category:Strategic Air Command military installations Category:Post-World War II aircraft storage facilities Category:World War II airfields in the United States Category:Reconstruction Finance Corporation disposal facilities Category:Aircraft boneyards "
"Alexander Anatolyevich Shabalov (; ; born September 12, 1967) is an American chess grandmaster and a four-time winner of the United States Chess Championship (1993, 2000, 2003, 2007). He also won or tied for first place seven times in the U.S. Open Chess Championship (1993, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016). In 2002 he tied for first place at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow with Gregory Kaidanov, Alexander Grischuk, Aleksej Aleksandrov, and Vadim Milov. In 2009 Shabalov shared first place with Fidel Corrales Jimenez in the American Continental Chess Championship. He was born in Riga, Latvia, and like his fellow Latvians Alexei Shirov and Mikhail Tal, he is known for courting complications even at the cost of objective soundness. Shabalov regularly lectured chess players of all ages at the House of Chess, a store that he ran at the Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until it closed in mid-2007. In 2015 he was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. In 2019, Shabalov won the 23rd annual Eastern Chess Congress. In 2020, Shabalov won the 52nd annual Liberty Bell Open. Notable games *Alexey Shirov vs Alexander Shabalov, Rapidplay 2001, Spanish Game: Schliemann Defense, Dyckhoff Variation (C63), 0-1 *Alexander Shabalov vs Varuzhan Akobian, US Championships 2003 2003, French Defense: Advance, Lputian Variation (C02), 1-0 *Alexander Shabalov vs John Fedorowicz, US Championships 2003 2003, Benko Gambit: Accepted, Pawn Return Variation (A57), 1-0 References External links Alexander Shabalov chess games at 365Chess.com * Alexander Shabalov USCF profile * Interview with Alexander Shabalov * Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Chess grandmasters Category:Chess Olympiad competitors Category:American chess players Category:Latvian chess players Category:Sportspeople from Riga Category:Russians in Latvia "
"Trevor John Cherry (23 February 1948 – 29 April 2020) was an English footballer who notably captained both England and Leeds United. A defender, Cherry also played for Huddersfield Town and Bradford City, and managed the latter club. Born in Huddersfield, he started his career at his hometown team before he made his name at Leeds United during the 1970s, making 486 appearances and winning the Championship title in 1973–74. He won a total of 27 international caps and captained the England team on one occasion. Playing career =Huddersfield Town= Born in Huddersfield on 23 January 1948, Cherry joined his hometown club Huddersfield Town as part of the groundstaff in July 1963 as a 15-year-old from the Huddersfield YMCA, before signing a full-time professional contract in 1965. He made his debut in 1965, aged 17, establishing himself as a classy defender who could play anywhere across the back line, and helped Huddersfield win the Second Division title in the 1969–70 season. They were relegated after two seasons in the top flight and in 1972 Cherry left for local rivals Leeds United after making a total of 188 appearances; he had impressed Leeds manager Don Revie enough for him to consider him a potential replacement for Jack Charlton. =Leeds United= Cherry – along with teammate Roy Ellam – moved along the M62 in 1972 when Leeds paid £100,000 to Huddersfield for his services. He ended up playing both alongside and instead of Charlton in his first season but predominantly at left back, replacing broken leg victim Terry Cooper. By the end of the season Cherry had amassed 38 League appearances and was selected by Revie for the 1973 FA Cup final, which Leeds lost to Sunderland. He did, however, win the League championship with Leeds in 1973–74, as the team went on a record 29-match unbeaten run at the start of the season to make sure the title would be theirs; Cherry spent much of the season at left back, playing 38 times in total. The following season, 1974–75, was a mixed year for Cherry. Injury curtailed half of his season, but he recovered in time to help Leeds in their European Cup campaign as it progressed towards the semi-finals and a game against Barcelona. Cherry marked Dutch legend Johan Cruyff out of each leg as Leeds reached the final, but after missing subsequent League matches through suspension, manager Jimmy Armfield placed him on the substitute's bench for the final against Bayern Munich, and he did not play. In 1976, Cherry became Leeds captain after Billy Bremner left, and won his first England cap. He continued to play for Leeds until 1982, the year that the club were relegated to the Second Division, and won the club's Player of The Season award in 1981. In 2000, Cherry was voted the 30th best Leeds United player by its fans. =Bradford City and management= Cherry played three months of Second Division football for Leeds before leaving for another neighbouring club, Bradford City, where he became player-manager. He played for three years until he retired to concentrate on management. His final game in football was City's 2–0 win against Bolton Wanderers on 6 May 1985 which captured the Division Three title. Cherry also won the Third Division manager of the season award. However, Cherry's own personal success paled into insignificance when the Valley Parade ground was devastated by the Bradford City stadium fire during the final game of the season on 11 May 1985, killing 56 people. The subsequent appeal to raise money for the bereaved families and injured supporters raised more than four million pounds, and Cherry was among the mourners at many funerals. He steered Bradford to 13th place the following season despite the club having to play home games at three other grounds; Odsal Stadium, Bradford and his former home grounds of Elland Road and Leeds Road. Cherry was manager when City returned to Valley Parade in December 1986 but was sacked the following month when the club was struggling – a surprise decision that provoked angry demonstrations against the board. International career Cherry won his first English cap on 24 March 1976 against Wales. He became the first England player to be sent off in an international friendly, when he was sent off against Argentina in 1977. Cherry lost two teeth after being punched in the mouth by Daniel Bertoni, whom Cherry had felled with a nasty tackle from behind; Bertoni also received a red card. England did not qualify for the 1978 World Cup, but did so for the 1980 European Championships, and Cherry was included in the squad of 22 to travel there. In a warm-up game just before the tournament, Cherry captained his country for the only time in a 2–1 win against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His tournament was limited, however, to a single substitute appearance against Spain. It was to be his 27th and final cap. Post-football After he was sacked by Bradford City, Cherry gave up football in general for a number of years. He ran a promotions and hospitality company in Huddersfield, a waste paper company and a five-a- side football centre. In 2004, he also made a bid to buy into Leeds United. He was also given an honorary degree by the University of Huddersfield in November 2005. Cherry died suddenly on 29 April 2020, aged 72. He was survived by his wife Sue, with whom he had two sons and a daughter, and five grandchildren. References External links * England career profile * Category:1948 births Category:Sportspeople from Huddersfield Category:2020 deaths Category:English footballers Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players Category:Leeds United F.C. players Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players Category:England international footballers Category:UEFA Euro 1980 players Category:English football managers Category:Bradford City A.F.C. managers Category:English Football League players Category:English Football League representative players Category:English Football League managers Category:Association football defenders Category:England under-21 international footballers "