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.
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.
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)
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)
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)
