Guard Director Calls Current Situation "Unconscionable"

North Dakota’s Happy Hooligans -– whom their senator calls, "arguably the best jet fliers in the U.S. military" -– fly some of the oldest aircraft in the U.S. military. U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) wants to know why.

Dorgan pressed Lt. General Danny James, the Director of the Air National Guard, for an answer to that question Wednesday at a Capitol Hill hearing. He also urged the head of the Air National Guard to see that the Happy Hooligans are issued more modern aircraft.

James told Dorgan he agreed the current situation is "unconscionable." and promised direct, priority attention to correcting the situation.

Dorgan is a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and questioned James and other witnesses at a subcommittee hearing Wednesday looking into a number of National Guard issues.

"We ought not have one of the best units in the country flying some of the nation’s oldest planes," Dorgan said. "The Happy Hooligans are being shortchanged. That’s beyond dispute. But year, after year, after year, we get the same non-answers. This situation begs for a solution." [Perhaps because the threat posed by south-central Canada is considered relatively low?]

James replied, "We’re trying to come up with a solution because it is unconscionable to have a unit that good, flying airplanes that old. This is one of my top priorities."

James also told Dorgan he is working on an "out-of-the-box" solution with his staff which he hopes the Senator will support, but he is concerned the Air Force may not embrace the idea.

FMI: http://dorgan.senate.gov; www.angelfire.com/nd/119cadetsquadron