Forum: General

F-16 Deployments (Copyright 2005 by Joachim Jacob and F-16.net)

During OEF´s main combat phase, U.S. F-16s operated out of two Southwest Asian air bases used by CENTAF Forward: Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, and Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

As the force build-up for OEF began, an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) "Rainbow Team" with 10 F-16Cs Block 30/32 was already deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber AB. This "rainbowed" Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) included jets from the following three units: 93rd FS "Makos", 482nd FW, Homestead ARB, Florida (4 aircraft), 457th FS, 301st FW, NAS Fort Worth JRB (Carswell Field), Texas (3 aircraft), 466th FS "Diamondback", 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah (3 aircraft).
This contingent was deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group (332nd AEG) at Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, as part of a regularly scheduled 90-day Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation to enforce the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, in this case for the AEF 7/8 (Cycle 2) rotation (September – November 2001). During AEF Cycle 2 AEFs with even numbers were clearly assigned to Operation Southern Watch (OSW), AEFs with odd numbers were assigned to Operation Northern Watch (ONW) and to some other tasks. In this case the AFRC contingent was an integrated part of AEF 8. To perform this 90-day deployment, which began in mid-September, 2001, the three units combined personnel, aircraft and equipment. The 482nd FW was the lead unit in September, followed by the 419th FW in October, and the 301st FW in November. This "Rainbow Team" was also supported by pilots and maintenance personnel from AFRC´s 302nd FS, 944th FW, Luke AFB, Arizona. Originally tasked only with OSW missions, on October 22, 2001, this contingent flew the first F-16 sorties for OEF over Afghanistan.

Especially for OEF, additionally F-16s were deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar. On November 7, 2001 – exactly one month after the operation started – at this bare base arrived 6 F-16CJ Block 52 from the 389th FS "Thunderbolts" (shortened nicknamed also as "T-Bolts"), 366th Wing "Gunfighters" (ACC), Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. This contingent deployed as 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (389th EFS). Squadron commander was Lt. Col. Tom Lawhead. During the deployment the 389th EFS was the first F-16 unit to use the GBU-31 JDAM and the new Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMDs), based on CBU-103, in combat.

In early December 2001 AFRC´s "Rainbow Team" at Ahmed Al Jaber AB was replaced by elements of the 18th FS "Blue Foxes", 354th FW (PACAF), Eielson AFB, Alaska, which deployed with 10 F-16C (Block …) and 142 personnel as part of the regularly scheduled AEF 9/10 (Cycle 2) rotation (December 2001 – February 2002). Squadron commander was Lt. Col. Burt Bartley. On March 2, 2002, pilots from the 18th FS were some of the first fighters involved in Operation Anaconda. Two pilots received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their effort. The jets returned to Eielson AFB in five-ship formations each on March 21 and 22, 2002. During this deployment the unit flew 3,200 flight hours, about four times the normal rate.

In early January 2002 the 389th EFS at Al Udeid AB was replaced by elements of the 157th FS "Swamp Foxes", 169th FW (South Carolina ANG), McEntire ANGB, South Carolina, which deployed also 6 F-16CJ Block 52. At this time the 157th FS was the only ANG squadron equipped with F-16CJ (Block 52). The aircraft left their home base on January 8 and 9, 2002. On April 3, 2002, the aircraft returned home to McEntire ANGB.

In mid-March 2002 the "Blue Foxes" at Ahmed Al Jaber AB were replaced by elements of the 170th FS, 183rd FW (Illinois ANG), Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois, which deployed with probably 10 F-16C (Block …) as part of the regularly scheduled AEF 1/2 (Cycle 3) rotation (March – May 2002). During this deployment the 170th FS flew nearly 500 OSW sorties and 88 OEF sorties, alone more than 1,000 flight hours in the first 30 days. The unit achieved a 98-percent mission capable rate, with an equally impressive 97-percent sortie effectiveness rate. On April 17, 2002, a two-ship formation from the 170th FS mistakenly dropped a bomb over the Tarnak Farms Range near Kandahar. Four Canadians were killed and eight wounded during this "friendly fire" incident.

F-16 Deployments copyright 2005 by Joachim Jacob and F-16.net.

The 332nd Air Expeditionary Group (332nd AEG)

The 332nd AEG at Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, was activated in November 1998 to replace the 4406th Operations Group (Provisional) at this deployed air base, often dubbed shortened as "The Jab" by U.S. airmen. The 332nd AEG played a key role during OSW, and later also during OEF´s main combat phase. At this time the largest CENTAF Forward host unit deployed to the CENTCOM AOR for OSW was the 363rd AEW at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia. Typically assigned fighter units were an F-15C Eagle EFS and an F-16CJ EFS mainly for SEAD ("Wild Weasel") missions. Saudi Arabia never allowed the use of Prince Sultan AB (by U.S. military shortly nicknamed "PSAB") for any strike missions, only for self-defense. At least, Saudi Arabia allowed the use of CENTCOM´s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at PSAB for the main combat phases of OEF and OIF. In contrast to "PSAB", Ahmed Al Jaber AB could be used for any air strike (Air Interdiction) or close air support (CAS) missions related to OSW, OEF and OIF.

332nd AEG Organization:

As an expeditionary unit the 332nd AEG consisted of a small number of one-year permanent party personnel, including the group commander, and a number of operational and support expeditionary squadrons. The permanent party personnel were assigned usually for a year, to provide continuity in key positions. The majority of the assigned personnel – about 1500 before the force build-up for OEF – was deployed as parts of regularly AEF rotations. During OEF´s main combat phase the 332nd AEG was commanded by Col. David C. ("Dave") Nichols, an F-16 pilot. His deputy commander was Col. (or at this time Lt. Col.) Matthew D. Neuenswander, an A/OA-10A pilot.

During the AEF 7/8 (Cycle 2) rotation there were originally three operational flying squadrons assigned to the 332nd AEG: An F-16 expeditionary fighter squadron (EFS), an A/OA-10A Thunderbolt II ("Warthog") expeditionary fighter squadron, and an expeditionary rescue squadron (ERQS). Both of the last two units were tasked with combat search and rescue (CSAR) alert, if any U.S. military aircraft should be crashed or shot down over Iraq´s southern no-fly zone.

As part of the force build-up for OEF, in October 2001 the 366th Wing "Gunfighters" (ACC), Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, deployed elements of the 391st FS "Bold Tigers" with F-15E Strike Eagles to the 332nd AEG. On October 17, 2001, pilots from the 391st EFS flew their first combat missions over Afghanistan. In early January 2002 this unit was replaced by elements of the 335th FS "Chiefs", 4th Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, which deployed with F-15Es as 335th EFS. On January 12, 2002, the first eight aircraft of the 391st EFS returned to their home base.

Surprisingly, both A/OA-10A contingents which were regularly deployed to the 322nd AEG as parts of the AEF 7/8 and AEF 9/10 rotations were never tasked with OEF missions. The first involved A/OA-10A contingent was the 74th EFS which consisted of elements from the 74th FS, 23rd FG "Flying Tigers" (ACC), Pope AFB, North Carolina. This EFS regularly deployed for the AEF 1/2 (Cycle 3) rotation.

After the withdrawal of the F-15Es from the 335th EFS, by mid-April 2002 the 332nd AEG hosted additionally a contingent of F/A-18C Hornets from an USMC fighter-attack squadron.