Eagle Country

By 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin, 53rd Wing

While Gunfighters are no stranger to the rapid rearming and refueling of an F-15E Strike Eagle in areas such as U.S. Central Command and the continental United States, it’s important these techniques are tested in new environments like the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The National Defense Strategy identifies the Indo-Pacific region as the priority theater for the Department of Defense making locations like CNMI in the western Pacific a key location for Airmen to adapt and tailor techniques to conduct military operations.

Congratulations to Lt Col Trinidad “Moses” Meza who achieved 5k flying hours as an F-15E Weapons Systems Officer. He currently holds the most flying hours as a WSO across the Air Force.

As a WSO he displays information from the radar, electronic warfare or infrared sensors; monitors aircraft or weapons status and possible threats; selects targets; and uses an electronic “moving map” to navigate.Lt Col Meza has flown sorties in support of Operation Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, passing 4k flying hours in March 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

USAF F-15C serial number 82-0025, assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, completes one of its final missions before retirement, July 26, 2021. The twin-engine, single seat jet flew as a memorial to Maj. James “Crush” Duricy, a test pilot who died the same kind of aircraft during a test flight in 2002. (All photos are made by U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Tristan McIntire)