Forum: F-16 News

Hello all,

The world famous "Rocky Mountain Coalition" comprised of the ANG units in Montana, New Mexico and Colorado have just started a deployment to Kunsan AB, Korea under the 186 EFS.

Article:
http://www.f-16.net/news_article1830.html

Images:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 0S-002.jpg
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 5N-001.jpg

Many of the "Big Inlet" Block-30 F-16s currently operated in the 120 FW / 186 FS of the Montana ANG and a few from the 150 FW / 188 FS started their careers in the 8 (T)FW at Kunsan AB.

Greetings,

Henrik.

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Nice shots, Henrik!

An F-16 from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, commonly referred to as "The Tacos," prepares to beddown recently after deploying to Kunsan Air Base as part of the unit's Air Expeditionary Force rotation. The 150th FW integrated with the 140th and 120th FWs, each from the Colorado and Montana ANGs respectively, to become the 186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Notes from me: 87-0243 Block 30F from the 188th FS (yellow fin flash with red lines and a red insignia (is that a star???). Just below of the fin flash the inscription "New Mexico" is vissible, and just below of the painted bird and the tail number the inscription "The Tacos".)

Hi-res version: http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 5N-001.jpg

A deployed crew chief guides an F-16 from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, commonly referred to as "The Tacos," into place before bedding down recently. The 150th FW deployed to Kunsan along with the 140th and 120th FWs, each from the Colorado and Montana ANGs respectively, where together they formed the 186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron as part of their Air Expeditionary Force rotation.

Hi-res version: http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 0S-002.jpg

Sniper pod...........oh yeah!

I feel bad for those guys, they are operating out of the "tree area". When i was there in 04-05 we had to work out there for a week or so and it isnt the funnest place to operate vipers.

So is this the plan for an alternate deployed location? Lately some people in our squad have been hearing info that we're deploying to a PACAF base during our AEF next year.

That is not a star in the yellow flash. It is a Zia which is like the Zia on the New Mexico Flag. The Bird is a Road Runner, which is the State Bird. The squadron call sign is "The Tacos" Our sister units, Montana - The Vigalantes aka Big Sky Militia , and Colorado - Cougers aka Mile High Militia, are also in Kunsan.

Anyone know about how long the deployment is expected to last, or how many jets from each squadron went?

I was hoping to visit the 140th Wing next month, but if all of their jets are away from home...

Jake

Hello Jake,

I am not sure about the length of this deployment - I would believe a month or two.

Jake, You should definately go to Buckley Applause

- the 120th FW are present with every F-16 not deployed to Korea or March AFB, for that matter. It is due to a run way surfacing in Great Falls.

Many greetings,

Henrik.

Thank you fou your helpful reply, Opie150th! But please tell me what´s a Zia? I have a very thick and probably one of the best dictionaries, published in Germany, but there´s zero hit for the word "Zia".

J.J. wrote:

Thank you fou your helpful reply, Opie150th! But please tell me what´s a Zia? I have a very thick and probably one of the best dictionaries, published in Germany, but there´s zero hit for the word "Zia".

that's the sun symbol originally used by some indian tribe living in new mexico IIRC (that symbol in the NM tail flash that you described as a "star")

Thank you very, very much for this interesting background info, HazF16! It's very helpful for me.

Try being there a whole year, with a pregnant wife back in the states and you are told you propbably won't get to go home because there is a war on (GW1). You ain't been packed until you have been Wolfpacked!

vinnie wrote:

You ain't been packed until you have been Wolfpacked!

I have heard that but now I'm living it. That statement is so true...

Last edited by Taco44 on Jul 11, 2006 - 05:08 PM; edited 1 time in total

Yes, the tree area sucks for F-16 operations. Definetly made for launches and not recoverys. Heard the F-117s clipped a wing last summer while deployed here. Hopefully that doesn't happen to us. The 120th is the only unit that has all its aircraft deployed to either here or March due to runway construction back in Great Falls. Buckley and us have the rest of our aircraft back at home. And yes... it seems they push that whole Wolfpack "Tip of the Spear" thing a little far.

Welcome the the Tip of the Shaft, because we aren't so much at the spear part yet.....

Forum: F-16 News

"Rocky Mountain Coalition" in Korea