Gates Prompts Air Force Leadership To Resign
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON — American officials are saying that the military and civilian chiefs of the Air Force are resigning.
Defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Defense Secretary Gates asked the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley, and the Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne, to step down.
A public announcement was expected later in the day. There was no immediate word on who would be nominated to replace General Moseley and Mr. Wynne.
The Air Force has endured a number of embarrassing setbacks over the past year. In August, for instance, a B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown across the country. The pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.
The error was considered so grave that President Bush was quickly informed.
