Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2020)
April 10, 2020 T he C olumbia P ress Air National Guard wing is redesignated The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing has been redesignated the 142nd Wing effective March 6, 2020. The 116th Air Control Squadron, a radar and com- munications unit based at Camp Rilea, is part of the 142nd Wing. The redesignation provides extra prestige and recogni- tion, according to Col. Adam Sitler, 142nd Wing com- mander. “The wing redesignation is an important step to rec- ognize the diverse mission sets within the 142nd,” he said. “The governing Air Force instruction specifies that the nomenclature of a wing reflect what it is de- signed to do. In our case, we are fortunate to have a Spe- cial Warfare Mission, and a Fighter Aircraft Mission.” When there are multiple missions, the proper designa- tion is “wing,” which reflects both the special operations, and the fighter mission, Shelly Davison/ANG public affairs Members of Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing are assembled in Portland prior to the start of the unit’s Change of Command ceremony in 2016. he said, adding, the name change doesn’t change the unit’s mission. “We are still fully commit- ted to flying fighters, and we’ll continue to excel in that mission area,” Sitler said. The 125th Special Tactics Squadron will continue to thrive. The wing has redes- ignated at least eight times during its history. It was founded in 1943 as part of the 371st Fighter Group. It be- came the 142nd Fighter Wing in October 1995. A ceremony planned for Sunday, April 5, at the Air National Guard Base in Port- land was canceled, due to the need to take coronavirus pre- cautions. The public comment period runs through 5 p.m. May 6. The documents can be viewed online at Oregon.gov/ ODF/Working/Pages/State- Forests.aspx. Documents also are available at district offices. Comments can be left on- line or mailed. State seeks comment on next year’s forest activities The Oregon Department of Forestry seeks public com- ment on projects, timber sales and other management activities planned in state- owned forests in 2021. Oregonians can weigh in on the preliminary Annual Operations Plans, which lay out on-the-ground activities expected to take place. State forests by law must provide economic, environmental and social benefits to Oregonians. To achieve the legal man- date, the lands are managed to create healthy productive for- ests, high-quality habitat for native fish and wildlife, clean water, benefits and revenue to rural communities and tim- ber-related economies, as well as recreation and educational opportunities. 5 State aquires fire suppression help The U.S. Forest Service is bringing on five addition- al air tankers for use when needed to battle wildfires in Oregon, according to sen- ators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. The additional contracts awarded by the Forest Ser- vice mean the agency has 18 air tankers under exclusive use with the agency, each with a base period of one year and then four one-year extension options. In total, the agency will have up to 35 air tankers available under all avail- able contracting options through the use of call- when-needed contracts. “The last thing our state needs during this public health crisis is to be hit by disastrous wildfires without the resources we need to fight the blazes,” said Merk- ley. These are “critical tools that will help us keep our communities safe.” The new tankers add to the state’s ability to battle the destructive blazes that have hit western states in the past few years, Wyden said. The contracts for the five additional tankers went to Aero Air of Hillsboro, Coul- son Aviation of Portland, and Aero Flite of Spokane, Wash.
