THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250605
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 24 lines
An Air Force general was relieved of his command Thursday because his ``inappropriate personal conduct'' had eroded his boss's confidence in his ability to command.
Brig. Gen. Robert T. Newell III, commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City, was yanked from his duties by officials at Air Combat Command, based at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton.
Spokesmen at Langley and Tinker provided no details of Newell's alleged misconduct.
As commander of the 552nd, Newell oversaw E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. He had held the post just since Sept. 6, when he moved to Oklahoma after commanding AWACS planes used by NATO in Europe.
A team of Air Combat Command investigators reportedly arrived at Tinker Wednesday to conduct an inquiry into Newell's actions.
Col. John Howell will lead the Tinker unit until a replacement is appointed. by CNB