



Air Force to replace F-15s on Okinawa with more advanced fighters on rotation.
TOKYO — The Air Force will withdraw its two squadrons of F-15 fighters on Okinawa over two years starting Tuesday and replace them with rotational squadrons of more advanced fighters, an Air Force spokeswoman said Friday.
The Department of Defense “will commence a phased withdrawal” of F-15 C/D Strike Eagles deployed to Kadena Air Base, spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an emailed statement provided by Kadena to Stars and Stripes on Friday evening.
Published reports Thursday and Friday said the rotational aircraft will come initially from F-22 squadrons in Alaska.
That’s Tail Flash 85-113, which recently reached more than 10,000 flight hours. To celebrate, members of the 144th Fighter Wing painted the aircraft with in this special paint scheme.
On these photos 85-113 was flown for the first time today after receiving the paint job to conduct a functional test flight. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn & Staff Sgt. Mercedes Taylor)