Hilltop Life

When one of the few still flying B-17 Flying Fortresses landed at Ogden Hinckley Airport recently, former B-17 Ball Turret Gunner Wayne Ottley took a turn in the air and brought some of his own memories of the aircraft along for the ride.

Ottley served four months in England during World War II from Dec. 1943 to April 1944. When a doctor discovered Ottley had developed a heart murmur, he was reassigned to Boise, Idaho, where he taught others the skills involved in sitting in a plexiglass and aluminum turret under the belly of the aircraft and shooting a .50 caliber gun.

Team Hill has recently joined the social media frenzy by creating a Facebook fan page and welcomes all of Team Hill, family and friends to connect with them.

The official page went live May 14 and is available at http://www.facebook.com/hill.af.mil, or search for Hill Air Force Base in the Facebook search engine.

Facebook is a popular social media site that facilitates virtual networking and communication among like-minded individuals who "friend" each other, giving Airmen multiple platforms to engage in conversations about their personal and professional interests.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force Materiel Command officials notified center commanders May 11, that Air Force headquarters has approved converting the command structure from wings, groups and squadrons to directorates, divisions and branches. The targeted implementation date for these organizational changes is June 30.

The e-mail notification to center commanders included an extensive list of wings, groups and squadrons that will be either inactivated, activated or re-designated.

The 1982 United States Surgeon General's report in 1982 stated that "cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality (death) in the United States." This statement is as true today as it was in 1982.

Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors -- activities that people choose to do -- smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society.

The Hill Officers' Spouses Club is sponsoring a Spring Craft Bazaar on April 21 at Club Hill from 10 a.m. to 6 pm. There will be more than 50 crafters and vendors, including floral arrangements, jewelry, stamps, candles, pottery, quilts, baskets, wooden pieces and much more.

Come shop for kids' and baby gifts, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduation gifts.

Proceeds benefit the OSC education and welfare fund, which provides scholarships and educational materials for the military community. Admission is free.

The Warrior Fitness Center is modifying the D&D Fitness Aerobics schedule due to a significant reduction in budget.

The new schedule will offer 15 free classes each week. Classes include Total Body, Pilates, Zumba, Basic Flow Yoga and Turbo-Kick.

Active Duty Only Circuit Training classes will remain the same for each week.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Warrior Fitness Center front desk at (801) 777-2762.

OGDEN -- Last night in Ogden, Air Force officials discussed what impacts Top of Utah residents might see if the F-35 lands at Hill Air Force Base.