Balad Air Base Deployment Update 2005-2006

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by J.J. » 28 Oct 2005, 22:34

Other Balad Air Base Deployment Update threads:
  • <a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-11344.html">Balad Air Base Deployment Update 2007</a>
  • <a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-11343.html">Balad Air Base Deployment Update 2008</a>


As part of the currently USAF AEF 7/8 (Cycle 5) rotation (September – December 2005) two expeditionary F-16C/CG squadrons are deployed to Balad AB, Iraq.

The 555th FS “Triple Nickel”, 31st FW (USAFE), Aviano AB, Italy, replaced the 510th FS “Buzzards”, also from the 31st FW. This replacement was officially disclosed by a 332nd AEW PA news article, published on September 23 in the base newspaper “Red Tail Flyer”. In this article both deployed Aviano squadrons were dubbed as Expeditionary Fighter Squadrons (510th EFS and 555th EFS).

Related links:
http://www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/balad/092 ... -balad.htm
http://www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/baladarchive/23sep05.pdf (go to page 3)
http://www.aviano.af.mil/Vigileer/PDF/current.pdf (currently go to page 5, and later go to the archive for this issue.)

The 93rd FS “Makos” (or “Florida Makos”, tailcode “FM”), 482nd FW (AFRC) replaced an ANG “Rainbow Team” which consisted of the following units: 111th FS, 147th FW (Texas ANG); 179th FS, 148th FW (Minnesota ANG); 184th FS, 188th FW (Arkansas ANG). The three ANG units all together deployed 12 aircraft for AEF 5/6.

According to Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, AFRC also deployed 12 F-16s to Balad AB for AEF 7/8. At the “Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2005” Bradley said on September 13: “And we just deployed three days ago our F-16s to go to Balad. So beginning tomorrow essentially, our F-16s will be a big part of the F-16 force out of Balad, working in Iraq. They begin their 120-day AEF rotation there at Balad the day after tomorrow, I guess. Today's September 13th. So the 15th is when the AEF officially starts, I guess. They deployed about three days ago. So that's 12 F-16s going over there.”

Full Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley transcript:
http://www.afa.org/Media/scripts/Bradley_conf2005.asp
Other related link:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123012166

Note: During the AEF 5/6 (Cycle 5) rotation (May – August 2005) for first time two F-16C/CG expeditionary squadrons were deployed to Balad AB at the same time.

PS: Before I joined the forums from the webmasters I got the permission to post such info. All posted info is cleared for public by USAF, CENTAF, ANG or AFRC PA. There are no OPSEC violations).
Last edited by J.J. on 20 Mar 2006, 21:00, edited 2 times in total.


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by HazF16 » 29 Oct 2005, 00:37

Thanks for keeping us updated, J.J.


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by gustav109 » 29 Oct 2005, 05:00

Just thought I'd correct that a little bit, It isn't just the Makos on this deployment, it is a rainbow of all the reserve fighter units, Homestead, Hill, Carswell and Luke. We are all participating. Plus those jets are not CG's they are block 30 airframes which make them C+ airframes. I'm with Luke and I'm deploying later this year.


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by cchief16 » 29 Oct 2005, 17:56

Man, I remember when the buzzards replaced us. If y'all are going to Balad its a good time... I'm not sure how frequent attacks are coming but even then its not a bad place. except being surrounded by army everywhere.
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by J.J. » 30 Oct 2005, 15:03

Thanks for your helpful contribution, gustav109! And good luck for your deployment!

By posting this new topic I overlooked an older but very important print-out of a news article from "The Miami Herald". According to this public source more than a dozen F-16s left Homestead ARB in two waves at 5:02 and 5:22 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2005. Sounds like a F-16 send-off with three (or about three) "air spares" to make sure that a package of twelve (?) aircraft head to Southwest Asia. According to 482nd FW commander Col. Randall ("Randy") G. Falcon, the "Herald" author wrote: "Reserve personnel and equipment from Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Naval Air Station at Fort Worth Texas accompanied the 482nd …".
According to gustav109 and this local press info, the second expeditionary F-16 squadron currently deployed to Balad AB must be mainly consist of elements from the following units:

93rd FS, 482nd FW, Homestead ARB, Florida
466th FS, 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah
457th FS, 301st FW, NAS Fort Worth JRB (Carswell Field), Texas

All of these three AFRC wings were "announced" for AEF 7/8 (Cycle 5) by "Air Force Magazine" (May 2005, page 45, online version). But there is no announcement for the 56th FW, Luke AFB, Arizona. I think this training wing will provide "only" combat support. Would you confirm this, gustav109?

At the end of 332nd AEW PA´s news article about the "Triple Nickel" deployment the editor noted: "The 555th EFS is one of two F-16 squadrons operating at her. The other squadron, will be the topic of a future story in the Red Tail Flyer." I look forward.

Related links:
"Reservists leave for Iraq" (full story from "The Miami Herald"):
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 621314.htm
"Utah airman depart for Iraq"
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_news_article1460.html


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by AfterburnerDecalsScott » 30 Oct 2005, 16:15

man i remember when the buzzards replaced us. if yall are going to balad its a good time.....im not sure how frequent attacks are coming but even then its not a bad place. except being surrounded by army everywhere


I left before the big PX was built and the BK/Pizza hut was just built. Have some buddies who just got back from there, and the attacks are still fairly frequent. I lived on the West side, away from most of the good stuff. It got to where we didn't go over to y'alls side of the base unless we REALLY needed to go to the PX or over to CIF....and then it was get in...get what you need...get the hell out, LOL! Life at Mortaritaville wasn't bad compared to most of the other places I saw, 'cept maybe Victory North. Spent a couple of weeks at Speicher in Tikrit and also Mosul. No attacks, but also few amenities. I could get almost anything at Balad.


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by J.J. » 30 Oct 2005, 22:01

Thanks for thanks, HazF16! It´s my hobby.


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by J.J. » 02 Nov 2005, 06:11

Image

Nice photo proof for additionally input from gustav109: 87-0230, 466th FS “Diamondbacks”, 419th FW (AFRC), Hill AFB, Utah, currently deployed to Balad AB, Iraq. Notes: No 332nd AEW “special marking” (or “flash”) on the tail. GBU-38 JDAM under the right wing.

Photo link with caption:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123012662
Hi-res version:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 4L-542.jpg
Another picture:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 4L-547.jpg
[/img]


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by Taco44 » 02 Nov 2005, 06:14

Give it time. When I went over with my unit last year, we already had the applied to the jets before they left. When I went back with the Minnesota unit this last summer, it took a couple of weeks in country before they were put on.
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by AfterburnerDecalsScott » 02 Nov 2005, 08:45

I have a couple of shots of 328....from both y'all and Montana, in-country w/o the flash

Image

I'm still not certain what our plans are for Kirtland, but I'll let ya know as soon as we firm it up. Thanks a TON for the invite!


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by J.J. » 03 Nov 2005, 00:41

Thank you very much for your input, Taco44! Only one question from me: Are there any "painting rules" in the "sand box" - related to tail "flashes" and "mission markings" or "kill markings"?


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by Taco44 » 03 Nov 2005, 03:29

No problem Scott. The flashes must have fallen off by the time the pics were taken. I know they all left country (US) with em on.

*Edit* You can actually see the lighter patch of gray at the top of the fin from where the sticker was applied in the above photo. If I remember correctly, it looks like that picture was from one of our engine phases right before coming home.

JJ- as far as rules...I know there are certain regulations concerning nose art, tail flashes, and mission markings. They must conform to these standards as well as be approved by MAJCOM. Most units, as ours did, went ahead and applied the nose art and mission markings without fear of consequences. I'm not saying it's right, but sometimes you just have to go for it.
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by cchief16 » 04 Nov 2005, 02:03

i remember that HAZ. HAZ 12 the only double haz we had until the predators took it over from us. you can see the sides but if you were in the haz and looked up it had the Hole from where we dropped a bunker buster through. the sides were all pock marked up
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by AfterburnerDecalsScott » 04 Nov 2005, 07:07

Yeah, that was actually kinda spooky seeing the shrapnel holes in the walls and the patched ceiling.

Best I can find is that the 48th flying F-111s did a lot of that damage. I know the brits lost a tornado right in that area.

Thanks for clearing that up Sean....I had wondered when the 332nd flash was applied.


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by fisherado » 05 Nov 2005, 00:37

My brother was in the 510th, and was the last of his squadron to leave Balad in September. He sent a pretty cool picture taken as he was "headed to work" one night....
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