European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 18, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 5top of officials say f-22 is crucial by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a top air Force officials told Congress on tuesday that those who claim the new f-22 advanced tactical fighter is not needed because of the dependability of such service stalwarts As the f-15 and f-16 Are not looking far enough into the future. At a Senate appropriations defense subcommittee hearing on the fiscal 1993 air Force budget request Secretary of the air Force Donald b. Rice said the f-22 is crucial to maintaining into the next Century the kind of air superiority that won the persian Gulf War. Subcommittee chairman sen. Daniel Inouye Dha Waii said the original premise for the f-22, which is not scheduled to be fielded for another decade was to counter the soviet threat to Europe. With that threat now fading into history some lawmakers feel the current generation of fighters is More than capable of handling any foe that might conceivably be on the horizon Inouye said. Rice acknowledged that the air forces front line fighters still have the Edge today with a slight advantage in avionics and a much bigger advantage in the skill of . Pilots. A the f-15 has an extraordinary record a Rice said of the fighter that specializes in air to air combat. A but the f-15 will be 30 years old in 2002. There Are other aircraft that Are almost the aerodynamic equivalent of the f-15  he mentioned the Mig-29 and Su-27, both built by the former soviet Union As Well As the French Mirage fighter As examples. A these Are aircraft that if . Pilots were flying them would approach the capabilities of the f-15 Eagle and f-16 fighting Falcon a he said. A frankly a situation where you have aircraft capable of giving us an almost even match if the other Side invests in Pilot training is not a comfortable position to be  Gen. Merrill Mcpeak air Force chief of staff said the idea of air superiority Means having an aircraft so far ahead of anything else that the air War can be fought Over the enemy a territory. The United states has not lost any ground troops to an enemy air attack since the korean conflict precisely because the air Force has had the technological Edge to take the air War to Hanoi in the Vietnam War and to Baghdad in the persian Gulf War Mcpeak said. A you want to take the air Battle Over the other Guys territory and win it in a decisive Way a he said. Expected advances in surface to air defences and other aircraft Over the next 10 to 15 years could make the Eagle vulnerable in the future Mcpeak said. The f-22 is designed to maintain the current . Edge Well into the next Century a to confidently achieve air superiority in any Given situation a Mcpeak said. A it makes Good sense to make the mistake of having too much air  the air Force wants to spend about $2.2 billion in research and development on the f-22 in fiscal 1993. The first prototype test aircraft will probably be fielded in fiscal 1995. The air Force has already announced plans to end production of the f-15 and f-16 fighters in fiscal 1993. On other issues Rice and Mcpeak defended the services plan to keep 3vi fighter wings in Europe once the draw Down there is completed. Sen. Ted Stevens a Alaska estimated that the 3vi wings will Cost about $5 billion per year and questioned whether it would not be More Cost effective to station the aircraft in the United states and maintain Bare Bones bases overseas to be used for deployments during emergencies and training exercises. Mcpeak said the current plan is a an appropriate contribution for the air Force to make in a european Force Structure that will be half of what it is  he said one Wing of f-15e strike eagles will he based in the United kingdom to provide Long Range interdiction and tactical nuclear capabilities while a Wing of f 16s will be based in Germany. In Germany f-16s currently Are based at Ramstein and Span Dahlem air bases. The new f-15es began arriving at Raf Lakenheath England last month where they Are replacing the aging Fleet off a 1 if aardvark fighter bombers. He said the service is still convinced that the third Wing belongs in the Southern Region of nato even though plans to base it at Croton Italy have fallen through. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago March 18,1982 a after preliminary tests proved promising the army and air Force moved to support the return of Slot machines to their overseas clubs. The machines were pulled in 1972 in the Wake of club scandals in Vietnam. 20 years ago March 18,1972 a president Nixon formally asked Congress temporarily to Block further court ordered busing while his administration wrestled with Long Range proposals to equalize the Quality of education for All races. 30 years ago March 18,1962 a in a letter made Public by the White House president Kennedy asked soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to initiate immediate .-soviet cooperation on five space projects to open the Way for eventual joint exploration of the Moon and planets. 40 years ago March 18,1952 a strengthening of communist Shore batteries was indicated after the battleship Wisconsin was slightly damaged and another Allied warship came under heavy fire from the enemy along North koreans East coast. World War ii 50 years ago today 18 march1.9.4 .2 it . Ships land american infantry and engineers on Fate in the new hebrides islands to Start work on an Airfield another link in a military Chain being built to protect Supply lines linking the United states with Australia and new zealand. In Europe the Axis air Campaign continues against Malta the Small British Island disrupting Supply lines to the afrika Korps in Libya physicians unwilling to perform castration of sex assault suspect Houston up a the proposed voluntary castration of an accused sex offender has been called off because his attorney could not find a doctor willing to perform the controversial operation. The judge who had approved the castration for Steven Allen Butler 27, removed himself from the Case and butlers attorney said monday that she also was dropping out. Butler was on probation for child molestation when he was charged with sexually assaulting a 13-Ycar-old Eirl in april 1991. He volunteered to undergo the surgery in Exchange Steven Allen Butler right enters court in Houston on monday. For probation instead of a possible prison sentence it be were found guilty his attorney Clyde Williams told state District judge Mike Mcspaddin. Mcspadden had ruled earlier this month that if Butler underwent castration he would be placed on probation for 10 years. However an attorney hired by butlers family Charles Freeman said last week that Butler had changed his mind about castration and had told Freeman he would rather go to trial. The National association for the advancement of coloured people and the Black United front a Houston civil rights group opposed the castration As did butlers family. The Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Butler on Friday and later said the Issue has National ramifications for the Black Community. In a hearing monday Williams who is stepping aside in favor of Freeman reported that she could not find a doctor willing to perform the operation. Mcspadden said he would drop the agreement and would remove himself from the Case which now goes Back into the Harris county docket for rescheduling. Butler can request a jury trial or he can accept pro sectors plea bargain offer of 35 years in prison. Doctor confirms she got aids from patient source 2194 Days of War w h Smrha publishers inc. A fort Worth Texas up a staff physician at John Peter Smith Hospital confirmed monday that she contracted the aids virus from a patient when she was accidentally stuck by a hypodermic Needle. Or. Patricia Wetzel 31, said she suffered the Needle stick last september while drawing blood from an aids patient in the hospitals infectious disease unit. She tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus in december. Wetzel said during a news conference at the Hospital that she is grateful for the support shown by her friends and colleagues and plans to continue her medical work with aids patients As Long As her health permits. A i had always told my patients that living with his is an emotional roller coaster and now i have experienced this firsthand a Wetzel said. Wetzel said she Hopes to become a spokeswoman for a National educational and support program for women and health care workers infected with the virus. Her husband also is a staff doctor at the Hospital. A i am determined not to live my life in shame or fear of How others May respond to me knowing that i am his infected a Wetzel said. A i have seen far too Many patients experience emotional and physical isolation because of their his status and i am determined that this must  standing before dozens of doctors and other health care workers in the hospitals auditorium Wetzel tearfully said a my husband has continued to provide support strength and love. Without him these past three months would have been  or. . Kageler a John Peter Smith Hospital administrator said Wetzel has worked exclusively with aids patients since her exposure to the disease and will continue in that role. Figures from the Federal centers for disease control in Atlanta show 47 health care workers nationwide had been accidentally infected with his through last december