Category: Eagle Country

By Staff Sgt. Samantha Mathison, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published August 22, 2016

When the announcement came through the radio that F-15E Strike Eagle #89-0487 would land in 10 minutes, Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance and 335th Expeditionary Fighter squadrons prepared to celebrate a historic moment, Aug. 16, 2016.

The F-15E was the first to achieve 12,000 flying hours and the pilot, Lt. Col. Brandon, 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, attained a career milestone at the same time; reaching 3,000 flying hours after 25 years of service.

“I have been lucky to have the privilege of flying this outstanding combat

warhorse for over 16 years,” Brandon said. “Each one of those 3,000 hours, and 12,000 hours for the jet, represent countless hours from our Air Force team. As Strike Eagle aircrew, we are privileged to put bombs on target as a culmination of unbelievable efforts by thousands of others.”

The effort put into the maintenance and care of the jet has resulted in an impressive 26 year history since its commission in 1990, which has earned it the nickname “America’s Jet” within the unit, according to Chief Master Sgt. Roosevelt, 380th EAMXS STRIKE superintendent.

The aircraft has deployed 17 times in support of combat operations, to include operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Roosevelt said. It was during Operation Desert Storm that “America’s Jet” dropped a GBU-10 laser-guided bomb on an enemy helicopter in the only recorded F-15E air-to-air combat kill.

The commemorative star decal on the side of the aircraft has served as a visual reminder of the event ever since, and now the jet has earned another milestone decal signifying the achievement of 12,000 flying hours.

“To reach this milestone it required almost 30 years of performing safe, compliant and efficient aircraft maintenance,” Roosevelt said. “12,000 hours is huge for a fighter, because Airmen actually get to see, feel and hear their impact to the mission, and understand how what they do is important.”

What makes this jet even more unique is that this milestone and the last one of 10,000 flying hours were both accomplished in deployed locations during operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve, he said.

The 380th EAMXS crew chiefs deployed with “America’s Jet” from Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and whether home or abroad, this aircraft is their pride and joy, according to Master Sgt. Richard, 380th EAMXS lead production superintendent.

“All of our aircraft have different temperaments, so to speak, but America’s Jet consistently outperforms all of our other jets,” Richard said. “We work hard to keep our aircraft in the air, so the 12,000 hour milestone is a testament to all of the maintainers who’ve kept her flying. That’s why we call her America’s Jet; because she is full of grit and fortitude, the embodiment of the American spirit, and has demonstrated this in every major conflict since Desert Storm.”

By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — Lt. Col. Eric Schmidt, 334th Fighter Squadron director of operations is sprayed down by friends and family members following his final F-15E Strike Eagle flight June 17, 2016, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Schmidt eclipsed 3,000 hours in the Strike Eagle and was greeted by many to celebrate the occasion. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway)

Master Sgt. Julie Avey, Public Affairs Specialist
Lt. Col. Brenda Hendricksen, Public Affairs Officer

(3/31/2016 – Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Mass.) – The 104th Fighter Wing here will be deploying over 200 unit members, 12 F-15 Eagle aircraft and associated equipment in support of multiple NATO objectives in Europe.

While in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Area of Responsibility, the 104th FW will support the NATO Air Surveillance mission in Iceland as part of a Theater Security Package in support of NATO alliance commitments.  The unit will also deploy to Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, and other European NATO and partner nations.

The unit will conduct training alongside our NATO allies and partners to strengthen interoperability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to a Europe that is whole, free, at peace, secure, and prosperous.

“As Citizen Airmen we continue to support the National Security both home and abroad with partner nations and allies,” said Col. James Keefe, Commander of the 104th FW. “Our Guardsmen are on duty accomplishing missions they train for every day at Barnes and are an enduring choice for security cooperation and building partnerships. Our defense relationships with allies like Iceland are critical to ensuring security for the United States and NATO.”

The Air National Guard has enduring long-term relationships with countries with similar values and interests, paramount for meeting defense goals in today’s global environment. The 104th FW Air Guardsmen provide critical support throughout the USAFE AOR by deploying and interacting with a variety of nations.

We represent America’s forward presence, standing alongside our proven, indispensable European allies and partners. Together, we are ensuring our security, protecting our global interests, and bolstering our economic bonds. We are able to maintain a global presence thanks to the combined efforts of our active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Forces.

The 104th FW is an operational flying unit assigned to the Air Combat Command, and proudly claims the honor of being one of the oldest flying units within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Recently the 104th received “Air Control Alert Unit of the Year” by the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – 1st Air Force (CONR-1AF/AFNORTH).  A component of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) provides airspace surveillance and control and directs aerospace control activities for the continental United States (CONUS).

Tasked to provide operationally ready combat units, combat support units and qualified personnel for active duty, the 104th FW supports Air Force wartime contingency requirements and performs a variety of peacetime missions required by the Air Force and compatible mobilization readiness. One mission of the 104th is Aerospace Control Alert (ACA), providing armed fighters ready to scramble in a moment’s notice to protect the Northeast from any airborne threat. The unit is responsible for protecting a quarter of the nation’s population and one third of the Gross Domestic Product

by Airman 1st Class Erin R. Babis
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/9/2016 – ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England — The 48th Fighter Wing’s jets are flying more sorties during the month of March.

 “We are exercising the ability to fly a massive amount of sorties in a short amount of time, and preparing our pilots for operations that are outside the norm, so that they are ready in a stressful environment, to go out and execute the mission they’ve been trained to do,” explained Lt. Col. Jason Zumwalt, 493rd Fighter Squadron director of operations.

On a typical day, one fighter squadron flies 14 sorties each, lasting about an hour and a half. But, this month, squadrons are scheduled to fly up to 54 sorties in one day.  During this time, instead of shutting down the jets after the morning and evening sorties, each jets will be refueled twice, allowing pilots three opportunities to better hone their skills.

“It’s a great experience for the pilot to stay in the jet, get refueled and do it again,” Zumwalt said. “The sorties are exhausting, and this training pushes pilots further, testing their limits, so they are ready at a moment’s notice and can successfully accomplish the mission. Your typical pilot may get between nine and 12 sorties a week, and, on average, that’s how many pilots get in a month.”

Zumwalt explained that this surge in training allows pilots to practice executing difficult maneuvers with precision.

“A good example is a break turn,” Zumwalt explained. “It’s a defensive or offensive hard turn, high-g maneuver to turn the aircraft very rapidly. Now, I can go out and do three of those in a single sortie or I can go out and do 12 of them in a single day. What you’ll find is that, during that day, it’s a lot of muscle memory, and by hitting it all at once we are able to zero in on the perfect spot for execution.”

The Liberty Wing and surrounding community communities can expect to hear more jets in the sky during the coming weeks. For every aircraft the Liberty Wing puts in the sky, there is a lot of work that goes on in the background and a lot of beneficial training that prepares our Airmen for future operations. Training consistently and occasionally pushing the limits keeps everyone on the ground and in the air Forward, Ready, Now

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. –

By Airman Shawna L. Keyes, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Fourteen of the 4th Fighter Wing’s F-15E Strike Eagles took off for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in support of Red Flag 16-2, Feb. 25.

The two-week long exercise began Feb. 29 and concludes March 11. The exercise aims to continue training crews in air, space and cyberspace in combat scenarios to prepare for overseas contingences.

“Red flag is a large force joint collision exercise, so we got a lot of other players from other nations and other services,” said Maj. Gabe Lewis, 336th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. “The idea of Red Flag is to simulate those first couple days of combat so that when you go out into no kidding combat you’re not deer-in-the-headlights and you’re not struggling to keep up. It is the best exercise to prepare for combat.”

Red Flag was initiated in 1975 and is held annually on the Nevada Test and Training Range, providing realistic combat training for the United States and its allies. The range has more than 15,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land for the aircraft and crews to simulate a multitude of scenarios.

To help prepare for Red Flag and provide additional realistic training for today’s warfighters, members of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina developed a monthly exercise known as Razor Talon, which began in March 2011. It’s about half the size of Red Flag and is a low-cost, large-force training opportunity for joint East Coast tactical and support aviation units.

“Razor Talon provides a safe environment to train joint and combined warriors, using training battlespace available in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, to ensure they are prepared for operational challenges they are likely to face during a contingency,” said Lt. Col. Jason Watson, 4th Operations Support Squadron assistant director of operations and chief of Razor Talon.

Razor Talon operates with approximately 30 aircraft over the span of one day, whereas Red Flag combines more than 70 aircraft, including those from the Italian and Turkish Air Forces, with exercises spanning over two weeks.

“When I went to Red Flag six years ago we didn’t have Razor Talon,” Lewis said. “I would say the young guys we send out to Red Flag now are much better prepared having gone to Razor Talon before heading out.”