F-16 Fighting Falcon News

June 15, 2005 (by Lieven Dewitte) - For seven years, the Republic of Singapore's air force shared the eastern New Mexico skies with Cannon Air Force Base. That relationship is coming to an end next month as the 428th Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, New Mexico, is being inactivated
The unit is a joint Republic of Singapore and USAF squadron that was activated on Nov 12, 1998.

The decision to move was made by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and is said to be centered around Singaporean budget issues.

The 27th Fighter Wing will host the inactivation ceremony July sixth.The squadron consists of 140 Republic of Singapore Air Force and 25 U-S Air Force personnel.

It flew 12 Singaporean F-16 Block 52s and provided training to RSAF personnel as part of the Peace Carvin III program. Nine of those jets departed for Singapore already on June second.

The remaining F-16s will depart for Luke Air Force Base sometime next month to join the 425th Fighter Squadron. The move will leave 60 F-16s at Cannon. Cannon Air Force Base in on the Pentagon's list of bases recommended to close under the latest round of base realignments and closures.

In a previous life, the 428th was the 428thTFS at Nellis AFB, where it was disbanded end 1988.