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Veteran Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 262 Status: Offline

AfterburnerDecalsScott wrote:

That matters how exactly? You are trying to make some idiotic point about it being inherently safe bombing the poor innocent Iraqis from the mean ol' F-16s thousands of feet up.....and pretty much just stepped on your peepee.....I can't wait for what comes next! (man I want the gleeful rubbing hands together smilie)

Huh? Never did nor never would I make such a point. You are paranoid, obviously, because you believe anyone who is against this dumb war is also unpatriotic and anti-American and pro-Iraqi, which, at least in my case, could not be further from the truth. I am so patriotic that I don't think a single American life is worth losing for any number of Iraqi lives and I look forward to the day when not one more American has to die just to keep these people from killing each other which, quite frankly, is their problem, not ours. I, for one, am glad we have gotten to the point where we can bomb from 10,000 ft. up without putting American lives at risk. I only wish we could put our Hummers 10,000 ft. up too. My comment regarding this general flying an F-16 was a genuine statement of surprise that generals are actually flying fighter planes in combat, although in an admittedly permissive environment, while doubting that they would have him flying such mission against, say, a genuine IADS. Your reading further into my comments is your problem, not mine.

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Veteran Joined: May 26, 2008 Posts: 262 Status: Offline

Henrik wrote:

Hello all,

Great video from the 115th FW deployment to Balad!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/henrik_the ... 659017611/

More can be found here;

http://www.115fw.ang.af.mil/photos/inde ... eryID=5933

Greetings,

Henrik.

Thanks for the great video. Interesting to note - in the pictures from their website - that these birds are now equipped to carry the AIM-9X, but lack the JHMCS.

Obamanite wrote:

J.J. wrote:

I uploaded two pictures from the photo essay called "New star in town", released today on 332nd AEW´s public website.

The following related shot is availabe in the website´s photo section:

Wow, so they're actually letting generals fly combat missions these days? Nice to see the higher-ups putting themselves in the line of fire (not that the F-16 has anything to fear from non-existent air defenses).

Also note that his Viper is carrying one AIM-120A/B and one AIM-120C.

Brigadier Generals have been flying combat missions for a long time...alot of people seem to have this perception that Air Force generals do not fly and thats far from the case. Commanding a combat wing gives you part of the responsibility. During Operation Allied Force - the general(s) in charge of Aviano and Lakenheath flew combat missions. The general(s) that were in charge of OSW and ONW at PSAB and Incirlik flew combat missions when Iraq still had an air defense. Again general(s) also flew during the initial phase of Iraqi Freedom and also Enduring Freedom. If you look at all the F-16s pictures that fly out of Balad or other deployed locations they all carry Air to Air weapons.

I also am trying to figure out where in this line of posting were you accused of being unpatriotic? Enlighten us? or better yet keep your political views out of these posts!

Elite Joined: May 12, 2005 Posts: 1543 Status: Offline

Obamanite wrote:

Thanks for the great video. Interesting to note - in the pictures from their website - that these birds are now equipped to carry the AIM-9X, but lack the JHMCS.

Hello Obamanite,

As a side note - yes, most ANG F-16 units now carry the AIM-9X- the only ones to have JHMCS, though, are the Block-42 units in Toledo,OH and Tulsa, OK as well as the Block-52s ofthe SC ANG.

The Block-30/32s are due for the JHMCS in a few years time.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Elite Joined: May 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

Thanks for linking 115th FW´s brand-new website, Henrik! This high-quality video clip of launching 87-0298 is awesome! Note the inscription LT COL DEAN HAVILAND (rank and name of the associated pilot) on the left canopy rail. Normally, such stateside inscriptions have to be removed before deployments to U.S. CENTCOM´s AOR. But if I remember right, during the years of OEF and OIF we already had some "exceptions"...
Wink

Elite Joined: May 12, 2005 Posts: 1543 Status: Offline

Hi J.J. old chap!!

Yeah, it is a great video!! Lt.Col. Haviland also had 87-0298 assigned on my visit in the unit last August. I was told that all three deployed WI Vipers had the names retained for this deployment.

Greetings,

Henrik.

F-16.net Editor Joined: May 23, 2003 Posts: 1658

New photo essay on Joint Base Balad website under the heading of Running up. Consists of 7 pictures. The best 2 posted here.

Members of 77th AMU position F-16C block 50 #93-0552 from the 55th FS for an engine run up on July 16th, 2008 at Balad AB. The links and bar attached to the arresting hook secures the aircraft to the ground to prevent any movement and ensure the safety of the Airmen on the ground. The run up of the engine to full afterburner allows the engine mechanics and crew chiefs to ensure all systems are fully functional before putting the fighter back into operational use.

Hi-rez

SrA. Graham Willis and SSgt. Ferdinand Brown, 77th AMU engine mechanics, watch as an F-16C block 50 #93-0552 from the 55th FS roars in full afterburner during an engine run up on July 16th, 2008 at Balad AB. During a run up the mechanics test all of the engine settings and gauges that pilot uses during combat missions. Doing so will ensures no components faultier and the jet is ready for operational use.

Hi-rez

Elite Joined: May 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

Yesterday, on 174th FW's public website a lot of Balad pics were released. For dates of shots I cross-checked their VIRIN codes with EXIF data given by my PC and uploaded the following two with edited captions:

USAF F-16Cs block 30 #85-1548 and #85-1566 from the 138th FS are on display in front of a HAS at Joint Base Balad as airmen of the 174th FW (Tiger AMU) pose for a group photo during their AEF rotation on July 21st, 2008. This is the last F-16C AEF deployment for the wing as they enter conversion to the MQ-9 Reaper this fall.

At Joint Base Balad on July 14th, 2008, 174th FW members Lt. Col. Scott Brenton (F-16 pilot) and MSgt. Scott Simpson display a New York State flag that was flown over Iraq during a combat mission. The flag will be presented to Congressman Jim Walsh by 174th FW commander Col. Kevin W. Bradley upon the unit's return to Hancock Field within the next few weeks.

Anybody who can identify the last three digits of the serial number on the canopy rail? They are looking to me like 398 but that would be trash...

For the other pictures, mainly related to mascot "Blabber Bear", check: http://www.174fw.ang.af.mil/photos/

Elite Joined: May 12, 2005 Posts: 1543 Status: Offline

J.J.,

Could it be 85-1398 from South Dakota????

Greetings,

Henrik.

Elite Joined: May 08, 2004 Posts: 609 Status: Offline

The suprice of Generals flying combat is one that has lingered on from the VietNam war, when a 1-star general was shot down during a photo reccon mission over North VietNam. The navigator - a major - ejected, but the covering jets that meet them over the beach saw the RF-4C go in with the General inside. Only the Major survived.
Naturally, beein the last mission before returning home, the General wanted a "hot" mission rather than a "soft" one over South VietNam.
Result was that Generals was not allowed to fly combat missions, as the PR value of capturing or killling a General of the oposing force is way too great for any nation to risk.

Apparently, this policy has changed since VietNam Wink

Elite Joined: May 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

Let me post most of latest U.S. news media coverage about the current F-16 ANG "Rainbow Team", deployed to Joint Base Balad. The mainbody of the 114th FW left their home base aboard a chartered airliner on Friday. Looks like 114th FW personnel will replace 174th FW personnel.

The Bismarck Tribune wrote:

More South Dakota airmen deployed

Jul 27, 2008 - 04:06:06 CDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Another 200 South Dakota Air National Guard members are headed overseas to support military operations in Iraq.

They left Sioux Falls Friday evening.

The airmen will join F-16 fighter jets and more than 100 airmen from the 114th Fighter Wing already deployed to seven countries throughout Europe, Western Asia and Central America.

More than 350 officers and enlisted airmen are to be deployed by the end of the month. They're expected to return this fall.

Source: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles ... 161041.txt

This important AP news was also published today by "The Rapid City Journal":

The Rapid City Journal wrote:

More South Dakota airmen deployed

By The Associated Press Monday, July 28, 2008

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Another 200 South Dakota Air National Guard members are headed overseas to support military operations in Iraq.

They left Sioux Falls Friday evening.

The airmen will join F-16 fighter jets and more than 100 airmen from the 114th Fighter Wing already deployed to seven countries throughout Europe, Western Asia and Central America.

More than 350 officers and enlisted airmen are to be deployed by the end of the month. They're expected to return this fall.

Source: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/article ... 548190.txt

KELOLAND TV wrote:

200 SD Airmen Leave For Southwest Asia

07/25/2008

Ben Dunsmoor

200 airmen said goodbye to their loved ones Friday night. Members of the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard left for Southwest Asia Friday in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. [...]

The air guard members are expected to return home sometime in October.

Source (video included): http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,72250

KELOLAND TV wrote:

Air Guard Members Heading To Iraq

07/14/2008

Erica Johnson

Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing are being called to duty today.

About 20 guard members left this morning on their way to Iraq. They are the first of some 350 guards expected to be deployed this month. For many, it's not the first time they have had to leave their families behind.

Bags were packed and papers signed this morning as members of the South Dakota air national guard prepared to leave. The troops are being sent to Iraq as an "advanced tour" meant to prepare the base for the rest of the 350 guards set to deploy later this month. [...]

The members deployed today are expected to return in October. The South Dakota Air National Guard estimates more than 650 guard members have served in the war.

Source (video included): http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,71812

KSFY TV wrote:

South Dakota Troops Deploy to Southwest Asia

By KSFY News

Story Created: Jul 14, 2008 at 12:44 PM CDT
Story Updated: Jul 14, 2008 at 1:08 PM CDT

More South Dakota soldiers are headed overseas today, on their way to support the war effort in Iraq. The soldiers left this morning from Joe Foss Field at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport this morning.

Right now more than 100 airmen from the 114th Fighter Wing are deployed to seven different countries. 350 are scheduled to deploy by the end of the month.

The airmen are planning to be home sometime this fall. We'll have more on the deployment tonight on KSFY News.

Source: http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/25357329.html

KELOLAND TV wrote:

SD Airmen Deployed

07/11/2008

Associated Press

More South Dakota Air National Guard members are headed overseas to support military operations in Iraq.

The Guard says already F16 fighter jets and more than 100 airmen from the 114th Fighter Wing in Sioux Falls are deployed to seven countries throughout Europe, Western Asia and Central America.

The agency says that number in Southwest Asia will increase in the next week as more airmen leave Sioux Falls to do advance work on a larger deployment scheduled for later this month.

By the end of July, more than 350 officers and enlisted airmen will be deployed. They are expected to return in early fall.

Source: http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=0,71730

Elite Joined: May 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

Henrik wrote:

J.J.,

Could it be 85-1398 from South Dakota????

Greetings,

Henrik.

You should be right, Henrik, old buddy!

Current listing:

138th FS, 174th FW (New York ANG), Hancock Field, Syracuse, New York (NY)

85-1432 Block 30
85-1482 Block 30A (USAF departure shots)
85-1548 Block 30B
85-1566 Block 30B (UFAF departure shot)

175th FS, 114th FW (South Dakota ANG), Sioux Falls RAP (Joe Foss Field), Sioux Falls, South Dakota (SD)

85-1398 Block 30
85-1448 Block 30A (USAF departure shot, USAF Balad shot)
85-1486 Block 30B (USAF Balad shot)
85-1559 Block 30B (USAF departure shot)

Please note: The entire ANG F-16 fighter package left Hancock Field on June 10, 2008, including two air spares.

I will update this post over the next couple of days. Anybody who can/will provide us all serial numbers of the current ANG F-16 fighter package? We would be very grateful for any support!

Guys, sorry I don't have much time to browse this 78-page thread.

I just want to ask if there are Block 25s still participating in Iraq.

Please tell me the unit, too.

Thank you.

Elite Joined: May 12, 2005 Posts: 1543 Status: Offline

Hi Snick,

The 163rd FS / 122nd FW in Ft. Wayne, IN and the 179th FS / 148th FW in Duluth, MN are still in the Block-25 business. Ft. Wayne, IN is supposed to convert to Block-30s very soon and the "Bulldogs" in Duluth will keep their Block-25s for the time being.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Elite Joined: May 20, 2005 Posts: 2057 Status: Offline

Two brand-new OIF Viper shots were released today on 332nd AEW´s public website. But although the date of shots is given both by the photo´s VIRIN codes and by EXIF data as July 29, 2008, USAF´s captions are saying July 28. Rolling Eyes

Original captions:

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon taxies after landing here July 28. The F-16 is assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and is deployed from the 175th Fighter Squadron at Joe Foss Field Air Guard Station, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley)

[VIRIN code: 080729-F-0620E-029]
[EXIF data: July 29, 2008, 02:53]

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon sits in a hardened aircraft shelter between missions here July 28. The F-16 is assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, the most forward deployed Air Force wing in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley)

[VIRIN code: 080729-F-0620E-043]
[EXIF data: July 29, 2008, 03:10]

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Balad Air Base Deployment Update