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Eagle Country

This website contains the story behind the world’s best ” interceptor” and “strike” fighter. There are numerous great site’s about the F-15 so why another site?

Well most site are great photo gallery’s and contain the history and development of the F-15. What they miss is the story behind the F-15. The training, exercises and operations, deployments, Squadron anecdotes, personal stories. The history of the squadrons that operate or haven flown with the F-15. News about current exercises and deployments.

Each squadron history page is different from the other. Such as the 461st TFTS which contains a whole lot of extra information about the development of the F-15E training program. Or the 22nd TFS Stingers with a lot of squadron anecdotes and fighter pilot pranks. Take a look for yourself, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for visiting skytrailer.nl

Eagle Country is a site that is far from complete any contributions, suggestions are welcome. If you would like to share your squadron stories, photos, info etc please contact the webmaster contact@skytrailer.nl

Eagle Country on Facebook

To all Eagle Drivers, Strike Drivers, Strike Eagle WSO’s and Eagle Keepers. Eagle Country Facebook group is a great group to share squadron photos, anecdotes, bar stories etc from you time serving in one of the Eagle squadrons. Keeping the rich Eagle heritage alive. Feel free to join and maybe come across some squadron mates with who you have lost contact. Feel free to post any photos, stories etc. Join and click on this link Eagle Country

Below the latest F-15 Eagle News

Click on each headline for the full story and large images

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Barnstomer Fini-Flights

Friday July 12th, 2024 was a fini- flight Friday! at the 104th Fighter Wing. Pilots Maj. Timothy ‘Shawshank’ Boersig and Capt. Brian ‘Brass’ Burke took to the skies for the last time in the F-15 with the 131 FS, and celebrated their fini-flights with friends and family. Congratulations and all the best on the next step in your careers.

Dating back to World War II, the “fini-flight” is a time honored tradition and an exciting way for pilots to celebrate and say goodbye to their unit with friends and family.

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F-15E “LUCKY” reaches 15,000 flight hours!

The F-15E Strike Eagle, a fearsome multirole fighter, reigns supreme in the air-to-ground arena. One specific Strike Eagle, “LUCKY”, recently reached a prestigious milestone, reaching 15,000 flight hours during a combat sortie on May 17, 2024, while deployed within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

A U.S. Air Force 335th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief assists an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 17, 2024.. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The Strike Eagle with tail number #89-0487 came into service in 1989, and hundreds of maintenance personnel have supported the platform over the nearly 35 years of service. However, one dedicated crew chief has been a part of many milestones with the aircraft.

A U.S. Airman, deployed from North Carolina’s Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, has been working on “LUCKY” since 2019. “I have worked on this jet when it reached the 13,000, 14,000 and now 15,000 flight hour mark,” said the Airman.

The U.S. Air Force has deployed the F-15E Strike Eagle to support U.S. Air Forces Central operations within the region for decades to support assurance and deterrence missions, including in support of OPERATION Desert Storm, OPERATION Enduring Freedom, and OPERATION Inherent Resolve. The U.S. Air Force has also equipped several nations with variations of the platform, and its global presence provides opportunities to integrate with allies and partners operating the same platform.

F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew, consisting of a pilot and weapon systems officer, exit the cockpit at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 17, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The first F-15E was delivered in April 1988, and the 15,000-flight hour milestone leaves a historic mark to the Strike Eagle community and serves as a testament to those who fly, service, and maintain the 219 aircraft in the Total Force inventory.

Continue reading “F-15E “LUCKY” reaches 15,000 flight hours!”
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5 ‘Fini’ Flights in one day

Photos by Jay Hewitt 104FW

On Friday June 21st, 2024 Col. Mark ‘Panama’ Prete, 104th Fighter Wing Medical Group commander, Lt. Col. Rich ‘Mental’ Ward, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Jay ‘Fat’ Talbert, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Johnny ‘Rocket’ Koegel, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Brett ‘Dutch’ Vanderpass, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, all flew there ‘Fini-Flight’ at at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.

Thank you for your service and Congratulations for all of your accomplishments and future success!

Col. Mark ‘Panama’ Prete, 104th Fighter Wing Medical Group commander, left, Lt. Col. Rich ‘Mental’ Ward, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, left center, Lt. Col. Jay ‘Fat’ Talbert, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, center, Lt. Col. Johnny ‘Rocket’ Koegel, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, right center, and Lt. Col. Brett ‘Dutch’ Vanderpass, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, right, pose for a photo following their fini-flights, June 21, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.
(U.S Air National Guard Photos by Jay Hewitt)
Lt. Col. Jay ‘Fat’ Talbert, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, flies his fini-flight June 21, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. The 104FW fire department stations fire trucks to create an arc of water over the returning F15’s as a part of the fini-fight celebrations.
(U.S Air National Guard Photos by Jay Hewitt)
Col. Mark ‘Panama’ Prete, 104th Fighter Wing Medical Group commander, Lt. Col. Rich ‘Mental’ Ward, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Jay ‘Fat’ Talbert, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Johnny ‘Rocket’ Koegel, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, and Lt. Col. Brett ‘Dutch’ Vanderpass, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, prepare for their fini-flights, June 21, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.
(U.S Air National Guard Photos by Jay Hewitt)
104th Fighter Wing pilots pose for a photo, June 21, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Col. Mark ‘Panama’ Prete, 104th Fighter Wing Medical Group commander, Lt. Col. Rich ‘Mental’ Ward, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Jay ‘Fat’ Talbert, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Johnny ‘Rocket’ Koegel, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, and Lt. Col. Brett ‘Dutch’ Vanderpass, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, celebrate the completion of their fini-flights. (U.S Air National Guard Photos by Jay Hewitt)
Lt. Col. Rich ‘Mental’ Ward, 104th Fighter Wing pilot, prepares for his fini-flight, June 21, 2024, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.
(U.S Air National Guard Photos by Jay Hewitt)
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F-15EX II made ready for delivery to the Oregon ANG

Tails painted — all dressed up for delivery F-15EX EX7 and EX8 get the final touches before they head to their new home with the 142nd Wing, 123rd Fighter Squadron ‘Redhawks.'(movieclip via The Boeing company)

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Lt .Col. Anthony “Mafia” O’Shea takes command of the 391st FS

Lt Col Jeremiah “Utah” King relinquished command of the 391st Fighter Squadron “Bold Tigers” to Lt Col Anthony “Mafia” O’Shea this week. (photo credit 366th FW/PA)