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.
335th FS Chiefs. F-15Es from the 335th EFS arriving at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles fly overhead as they arrive at an undisclosed location, within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, for Desert Flag 2024. April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles fly overhead as they arrive at an undisclosed location, within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle taxis down the runway after landing at an undisclosed location, within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, places chocks in front of the wheels of an F-15E after it arrived at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, places chocks in front of the wheels of an F-15E after it arrived at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, places chocks in front of the wheels of an F-15E after it arrived at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, pulls ground safety pins from a storage compartment of an F-15E after it landed at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, secures ground safety pins into the weapons system of an F-15E after it arrived at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle weapons officer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, climbs down from an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and weapons officer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prepare to exit an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crew chief, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, places a ground safety pin into the canopy of an F-15E before the pilot and weapons officer, also assigned within the U.S. Central Command area, exit the cockpit after landing at an undisclosed location within for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, climbs out of an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and weapons officer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, climb out of an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle weapons officer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, walks across the top of an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle weapons officer, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prepares to climb down from an F-15E after landing at an undisclosed location for Desert Flag 2024, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag, hosted by a regional coalition partner, provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula.
(U.S. Air Force photo)U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, pilots and air support personnel, arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to participate in exercise Desert Flag 2024, hosted by a regional coalition partner, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force Photo)U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, pilots and air support personnel, arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to participate in exercise Desert Flag 2024, hosted by a regional coalition partner, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force Photo)U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, pilots and air support personnel, arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to participate in exercise Desert Flag 2024, hosted by a regional coalition partner, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force Photo)U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, pilots and air support personnel, arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to participate in exercise Desert Flag 2024, hosted by a regional coalition partner, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force Photo)U.S Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, pilots and air support personnel, arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to participate in exercise Desert Flag 2024, hosted by a regional coalition partner, April 18, 2024. Desert Flag provides strategic training with multinational and regional partners to build upon a cohesive fighting force in the defense of the Arabian Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force Photo)
Double Barrel 24-1. Some behind the scene photos of the 389th Fighter Squadron, participating in exercise Double Barrel 24-1 at Gowen Field, Idaho, April 9, 2024. This exercise was conducted to test agile combat employment and readiness capabilities. All photos made by Airman Keagan Lee
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing prepare for exercise Double Barrel 24-1 at Gowen Field, Idaho, April 9, 2024. This exercise was conducted to test agile combat employment and readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Keagan Lee)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Allen “Brass” Caunitz, a weapons systems officer assigned to the 389th Fighter Squadron, climbs out of an F-15E Strike Eagle during a rapid crew change done for exercise Double Barrel 24-1 at Gowen Field, Idaho, April 9, 2024. This exercise was conducted to test agile combat employment and readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Keagan Lee)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Nathan Persons, a pilot assigned to the 389th Fighter Squadron, climbs into an F-15E Strike Eagle during a rapid crew change done for exercise Double Barrel 24-1 at Gowen Field, Idaho, April 9, 2024. This exercise was conducted to test agile combat employment and readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Keagan Lee)
