Eagle Country

(photos by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Raughton)

67th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” deployed to Chitose Air Base, Chitose, Japan in support of a bilateral Air Relocation Training event. ATR events enable bilateral training opportunities and increase interoperability in support of the U.S.-Japan security alliance

48 FW/PA

Farewell to the King. the first 493rd Fighter Squadron-15 Eagle to leave RAF lakenheath as the squadron is getting ready to receive the F-35’s at RAF lakenheath. “The King” will continue to fly with the Massachusetts ANG at Barnes IAP.

Congratulations to the Liberty Wing for having achieved initial operational capability to execute #Agilecombat deployments

By 1st Lt. Lindsey Heflin, 53rd Wing

Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, flew the F-15EX Eagle II here for the first time Sept. 1, 2021.

The F-15EX is the first new platform tested and fielded through a combined developmental and operational test, expediting the test timeline and setting a precedent for future aircraft programs.

As a currently-qualified F-15E pilot, Kelly accomplished his F-15EX flight after completing the requisite academic and simulator training. Kelly, completed this conversion qualification to gain a first-hand perspective of the unique attributes and capabilities the F-15EX brings to the fight.

“When folks talk about 4th and 5th gen fighters, it’s important to zero out the ambiguity of exactly ‘what’ they are referring to,” Kelly said. “Are we talking signature, avionics, sensors/sensor fusion, and weapons? Because there is absolutely zero doubt that 4th gen aircraft equipped with 5th gen sensors, avionics, and weapons bring disruptive and decisive effects to a peer fight.”

Col. Jason “Vasco” Camilletti, 48th Fighter Wing commander, blasts off with “The King” for his 1000th flying hour in an F-15. Congratulations on this great milestone! Photos by SrA Madeline Herzog and A1C Cedrique Oldaker