PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland, Ore.– On March 22nd, 2023, Lt. Col. Jonathan Friedman, a pilot with the 123rd Fighter Squadron, took off from Portland Air National Guard Base (PANGB) flying an F-15C as he’s done dozens of times before. But this flight was a special one, as it would mark the 2,000th hour Friedman has spent flying the F-15C. While it’s not entirely uncommon for pilots to reach this milestone, this is likely the last time it will be reached in this airframe by an Oregon Guardsman.
Lt. Col. Jonathon Friedman, 123rd Fighter Squadron, poses in front of an F-15C prior to takeoff from Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore. on March 22nd, 2023. Friedman recently reached 2,000 flight hours in the F-15C, and will likely be one of the last Oregon guardsman to do so. With the upcoming arrival of the F-15EX within the net year, Friedman’s accomplishment serves as a capstone to over 30 year legacy of the F-15 in Oregon. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank)
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – For the Airmen at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the mission to train the world’s greatest fighter pilots revolves around two aircraft; the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II. Geo-separated, the 550th Fighter Squadron based at Kingsley Field, Oregon, and assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, extends the mission to include the F-15C Eagle.
Attached to the 173rd FW, the 550th FS serves as the U.S. Air Force’s only formal F-15 training unit and is the largest total force integrated active association in the Air Education and Training Command.
“Our mission is to train the world’s greatest F-15C fighter pilots,” said Lt. Col. Paul Baker, commander of the 550th FS. “We also focus on developing and training our multi-capable enlisted support force of the 550th.”
As the active duty F-15C Formal Training Unit mission transitioned to the Kingsley Field, the 550th FS was activated.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
“The 550th executes the TFI construct to a high degree of success,” said Baker. “We’re able to provide valuable insight and knowledge to the 56th FW on something that is ingrained in how the U.S. Air Force operates as a total force.”
While operating at Kingsley Field, the 550th FS has seamlessly integrated with various units in the 173rd FW, allowing the 550th FS to maintain itself while being separated from the 56th FW.
“The 550th Fighter Squadron is an integral piece of the 173rd Fighter Wing,” said Col. Lee Bouma, 173rd FW commander. “When you look across our wing, it is impossible to tell who is a guardsman and who is active duty.”
The 550th FS works closely with the 56th FW to accomplish the mission.
For all Kadena Eagle Drivers and Eagle Keepers , mark your calenders April 14-15th Kadena Eagle Sunset Celebration. **Spread the word, more info will follow.
The U.S. Air Force is replacing F-15C Eagles of Kadena Air Base, Japan with a rotating force of fighters according to official Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. That announcement kicks off a process of ferrying nearly 50 fighter aircraft across the Pacific Ocean back to the United States mainland—a task with many challenges.
U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles from Kadena Air Base, Japan land at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Dec. 2, 2022, where they will be inspected and repaired before being transferred to their gaining units or retired to the “Boneyard”. Kingsley Field was selected as the hub to receive the aircraft after the Air Force announced the Kadena Eagles would be replaced by a rotating force of fighters. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
They need a place to go–not just any place but a secure military installation with the room to park them, and with a team of people who understand the care and feeding the Eagle requires. It’s a problem with a ready solution—Kingsley Field, the home of the 173rd Fighter Wing, located on the west Coast in Southern Oregon, has extensive ramp space and whose Eagle Keepers are proficient at keeping them airworthy every day. “Kingsley’s geographic location on the West Coast makes it an easy choice due to the proximity of the stop-over location, Hickam Air Force Base,” said Col. Adam Gaudinski, the 173rd Maintenance Group commander. “Additionally, we were chosen due to our vast maintenance experience, unique capabilities, and our immense ramp and hangar space.”
U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles from Kadena Air Base, Japan land at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Dec. 2, 2022, where they will be inspected and repaired before being transferred to their gaining units or retired to the “Boneyard”. Kingsley Field was selected as the hub to receive the aircraft after the Air Force announced the Kadena Eagles would be replaced by a rotating force of fighters. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
When these aircraft arrive, which began Dec. 4, 2022, Kingsley maintainers “catch” them and inspect them for any issues following their transit of the Pacific Ocean. “When the jets are ready, Kingsley will coordinate with gaining units to come pick up their aircraft,” said Gaudinski, “Also, Kingsley will welcome several of the Kadena aircraft into our current fleet.” Finally, the disposition process means that several aircraft will retire to the “Boneyard” in sunny Tucson, Arizona.
The U.S. Air Force is replacing F-15C Eagles of Kadena Air Base, Japan with a rotating force of fighters according to official Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. That announcement kicks off a process of ferrying nearly 50 fighter aircraft across the Pacific Ocean back to the United States mainland—a task with many challenges. They need a place to go–not just any place but a secure military installation with the room to park them, and with a team of people who understand the care and feeding the Eagle requires. It’s a problem with a ready solution—Kingsley Field, the home of the 173rd Fighter Wing, located on the west Coast in Southern Oregon, has extensive ramp space and whose Eagle Keepers are proficient at keeping them airworthy every day. “Kingsley’s geographic location on the West Coast makes it an easy choice due to the proximity of the stop-over location, Hickam Air Force Base,” said Col. Adam Gaudinski, the 173rd Maintenance Group commander. “Additionally, we were chosen due to our vast maintenance experience, unique capabilities, and our immense ramp and hangar space.” When these aircraft arrive, which began Dec. 4, 2022, Kingsley maintainers “catch” them and inspect them for any issues following their transit of the Pacific Ocean. “When the jets are ready, Kingsley will coordinate with gaining units to come pick up their aircraft,” said Gaudinski, “Also, Kingsley will welcome several of the Kadena aircraft into our current fleet.” Finally, the disposition process means that several aircraft will retire to the “Boneyard” in sunny Tucson, Arizona.
Pilots from the 173rd Fighter Wing greet F-15C pilots from Kadena Air Base, Japan after they land at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Dec. 2, 2022. The U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles will be inspected and repaired before being transferred to their gaining units or retired to the “Boneyard”. Kingsley Field was selected as the hub to receive the aircraft after the Air Force announced the Kadena Eagles would be replaced by a rotating force of fighters. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
Currently the wing has accepted 14 Kadena F-15 Eagles and will send seven of them to new homes across the nation, including guard units in California, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Four of them will retire to the Boneyard and three of them will call the 173rd Fighter Wing home. “We were able to ensure all aircraft were ‘Code-1’ within 24-hours of their arrival,” Gaudinski said of the initial aircraft arrival on Friday. “Code-1” is maintenance shorthand for a jet that ready to fly immediately. “This permits aircraft to be flown to their gaining units as rapidly as possible.” The quick turn-around is helpful to the process as more jets are scheduled to arrive as early as next week. The process will continue until the entire fleet of Kadena Air Base F-15s leave the base, the first time that has happened since 1979 Currently the wing has accepted 14 Kadena F-15 Eagles and will send seven of them to new homes across the nation, including guard units in California, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Four of them will retire to the Boneyard and three of them will call the 173rd Fighter Wing home. “We were able to ensure all aircraft were ‘Code-1’ within 24-hours of their arrival,” Gaudinski said of the initial aircraft arrival on Friday. “Code-1” is maintenance shorthand for a jet that ready to fly immediately. “This permits aircraft to be flown to their gaining units as rapidly as possible.” The quick turn-around is helpful to the process as more jets are scheduled to arrive as early as next week. The process will continue until the entire fleet of Kadena Air Base F-15s leave the base, the first time that has happened since 1979
Six U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle fighters from Royal Air Force Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing arrived at Łask Air Base, Poland to begin deterrence operations on NATO’s Eastern Flank, Nov. 27, 2022. As part of U.S. European Command’s initiative to bolster collective defense posture and Allied integration, the Strike Eagles will take over the fighter mission from the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The 90th EFS will return to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska after a successful deployment in support of NATO’s Air Shielding mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Claire Waldo)
Six U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle fighters from Royal Air Force Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing arrived at Łask Air Base, Poland to begin deterrence operations on NATO’s Eastern Flank, Nov. 27, 2022. As part of U.S. European Command’s initiative to bolster collective defense posture and Allied integration, the Strike Eagles will take over the fighter mission from the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The 90th EFS will return to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska after a successful deployment in support of NATO’s Air Shielding mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Claire Waldo)
Six U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle fighters from Royal Air Force Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing arrived at Łask Air Base, Poland to begin deterrence operations on NATO’s Eastern Flank, Nov. 27, 2022. As part of U.S. European Command’s initiative to bolster collective defense posture and Allied integration, the Strike Eagles will take over the fighter mission from the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The 90th EFS will return to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska after a successful deployment in support of NATO’s Air Shielding mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Claire Waldo)
