Posted on 12/22/2017 6:44:53 AM PST by equaviator
Macomb County’s Selfridge Air National Guard base has lost its bid to house a fleet of next-generation warplanes.
Selfridge was one of five U.S. bases competing to host the new F-35 fighter jets.
But the Air Force announced Thursday it chose bases in Wisconsin and Alabama as winners in this round.
A bipartisan group of Michigan political leaders lobbied hard in Washington to land the F-35 and boost Selfridge’s long-term prospects.
Despite this setback, those leaders now say Selfridge proved itself a top contender for future opportunities.
“Although we are disappointed Selfridge was not selected to house the F-35 fighter jet, we are confident our hometown air base will be part of future fighter missions,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, calling it “a source of pride” that Selfridge made the final round of five.
Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, who represents the Macomb County district in Congress, said the decision “is far from the end of the road for Selfridge. This process confirmed what we already knew: Selfridge is among the top five bases in the country, and it has world-class support from the surrounding community.”
“Selfridge is a strong contender for future conversion to the F-35, and I will continue working to ensure the base maintains a fighter mission for years to come,” said U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat.
Peters also applauded the Air Force’s renewed interest in the A-10, a workhorse aircraft that had been scheduled for phase-out. Selfridge is home to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, which has flown the A-10 Thunderbolt in combat missions since 2009.
My late Dad worked at TAGO from about 1960 until the 70s when he went to Fort Fumble. He was the State G-3 for several years.
Maybe you knew his secretary, Diane.
If it was Diane Johnson, then yes, I did! :)
I believe that was her married name.
Yes, that’s her, then. Her son was Mark Johnson of UW Badger Hockey fame. (Player and later coach.) Nice lady.
My BFF in the world (Major, Retired) took over Diane’s job and worked for the following Adjutant Generals up until she retired two years ago.
Small world!
That would be a different Diane, then. I met Mark when he was playing for the Badgers and I was in Grad School. Good kid with one hell of a wrist shot!
Ah, the memories of when Wisconsin was a wonderful place to live! Madison has become a cesspool since I left. It was going the wrong way in the late 60s, but the imported a bunch of poor families from Mississippi and Louisiana and the rest is history of the worst kind!
Those in charge (Recycled Hippie Mayor Paul Soglin, for one) think they have created Utopia!
I sold my little farm and moved out of Dane County two years ago. It’s a whole ‘nother WORLD just one county over! :)
We thought about building our retirement home up north on the property my Grandparents acquired, but between health issues and frankly the drug and crime problems in Marinette County, we decided to pass on it.
Probably a wise move.
I will miss the sound of the Pike River going past where our house would have been. But, I took a picture one November of the view and had it converted into a painting. I gave it to my folks, and Mom gave it back to me before she passed.
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