Kandahar OEF Deployment 2012

[Asif]

179th FS arrived at Kandahar on August 13th

Identified:

#[serial]91-0336[/serial][/b]
[b]#[serial]91-0388[/serial][/b]
[b]#[serial]96-0081[/serial][/b]
[b]#[serial]96-0082[/serial]

USAF F-16C block 50 #91-0336 from the 179th FS taxis to the EOR after landing at Kandahar Airfield on August 13th, 2012. Personnel are deployed from the 148th FW in support of OEF. [USAF photo by TSgt. Stephen Hudson]

USAF F-16C block 50 #96-0081 from the 179th FS taxis to the EOR after landing at Kandahar Airfield on August 13th, 2012. Personnel are deployed from the 148th FW in support of OEF. [USAF photo by TSgt. Stephen Hudson]

USAF F-16C block 50 #96-0082 from the 179th FS taxis after landing at Kandahar Airfield on August 13th, 2012. Personnel are deployed from the 148th FW in support of OEF. [USAF photo by TSgt. Stephen Hudson]

[Boman]

Asif,

91-0391 also spotted during stopover at Moron;
http://www.airfighters.com/photo/104039 ... n/91-0391/

[Asif]

Another SCANG pilot reaches flight milestone at Kandahar.

SCANG pilot hits 2,000 hours in Afghanistan

<a href="f-16_pilots_num2855.html"> Maj. Ian "Chester" Toogood</a>

Maj. Ian 'Chester' Toogood climbs out of his jet after returning from a mission over Afghanistan on August 5th, 2012. Members of the 169th FW at McEntire JNGB are deployed to KAF in support of OEF. [USAF photo TSgt. Stephen Hudson]

[marksengineer]

Does anyone have another photo of 91-391 in that dark color scheme? Preferrably on the ground. Wondering if it's a one color or two color scheme?

Mark

[Boman]

One color except for intake lips etc.

http://www.airfighters.com/photo/104315 ... n/91-0391/
http://www.airfighters.com/photo/104039 ... n/91-0391/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 6a48fde868

[jbash]

Here's another one that made a pit stop at Moron. 91-405

http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_phot ... ?id=265223

The jet black tank with the squadron name on 96-082 looks pretty cool.

http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_phot ... ?id=265000

Here's another shot of 91-391 for the hell of it. The only thing I don't like about the new paint scheme is that you can't see the bulldog on the tail as good. If they were to redo that it would be perfect.

http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_phot ... ?id=264998

[Boman]

Thanks for the links, Jbash

[Asif]

Asif,

91-0391 also spotted during stopover at Moron;
http://www.airfighters.com/photo/104039 ... n/91-0391/

Guys will update this post as soon as we have photos of #91-0391 in action at Kandahar AB.

[Asif]

157th FS returns home to McEntire JNGB

USAF F-16C block 52 #93-0549 from the 157th FS returns after a four-month AEF deployment at Kandahar Airfield on August 21st, 2012. [USAF photo by TSgt. Caycee Watson]

USAF F-16C block 52 #93-0531 from the 157th FS returns after a four-month AEF deployment at Kandahar Airfield on August 21st, 2012. [USAF photo by TSgt. Caycee Watson]

USAF F-16C block 52 #92-3903 from the 157th FS returns after a four-month AEF deployment at Kandahar Airfield on August 21st, 2012. [USAF photo by TSgt. Caycee Watson]

USAF F-16C block 52 #93-0551 from the 157th FS returns after a four-month AEF deployment at Kandahar Airfield on August 21st, 2012. [USAF photo by TSgt. Caycee Watson]

Lt. Col. Walter 'Paps' Meares, a pilot with the 157th FS at McEntire JNGB, returns home in F-16C block 52 #92-3902 after a 4 month AEF deployment at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan on August 21st, 2012. [USAF photo by TSgt. Caycee Watson]

[Asif]

Wing wraps up largest deployment since Desert Storm
Story by Maj. James RothSmall

EASTOVER, S.C. — More than 300 members of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing return from Operation Enduring Freedom this week. The deployed Swamp Foxes have been providing fighter support for ground commanders in Afghanistan for the past four months.

The wing deployed a record 18 F-16 fighter jets and close to 400 personnel (pilots, maintenance specialists and support staff) in April. About 90 additional Swamp Foxes deployed in June to overlap briefly with and replace Airmen scheduled to return home mid-cycle.

While deployed, the unit flew more than 2,200 sorties, totaling more than 9,400 combat hours. “Our biggest success was right where it needed to be – providing ground commanders close air support 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week for 120 days straight,” said Lt. Col. Boris Armstrong, 157th Expeditionary Fighter Wing Squadron commander.

The success of the mission was made possible by invaluable behind-the-scenes work from the unit’s maintenance crews working long hours in brutal Afghan summer heat to keep the jets flying.

Maj. Shari Askins, officer in charge of F-16 maintenance while deployed to Kandahar Airfield, said, “The sacrifices they’ve made and the demands they’ve met are immeasurable. Walking the flight line in 118-degree heat with jets running, dust blowing in your face, and the constant anticipation of incoming rockets … their dedication is truly remarkable.”

This was the wing’s largest deployment since Operation Desert Storm and the fourth major deployment of its F-16s since 2002 (when the wing deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and flew more than 200 combat missions in the early days of the Afghanistan Campaign). In 2003, the 169th deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and flew more than 400 combat missions. Then, in 2010, elements of the 169th deployed again to support operations in Iraq.

Col. Mike Hudson, 169th Fighter Wing commander, said, “Deployments of this size and duration are not possible without the support of our families, our civilian employers and the community in general. Their support allows our Swamp Foxes to focus confidently on the mission at hand, and that focus contributed to this hard-working team’s phenomenal mission accomplishment in Afghanistan and at home.”

source: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/93761/wing ... DfqcaOQmes

[ghettobird]

The jet black tank with the squadron name on 96-082 looks pretty cool.

http://www.aviationcorner.net/show_phot ... ?id=265000

That jet black tank is a "travel pod" , recycled napalm canisters from Vietnam used to store pilot luggage and aircraft equipment needed for the deployment.

[Boman]

148FW 179FS heading for Afganistan;
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 0a2f518654
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 0a2f518654
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 0a2f518654

[Asif]

SCANG wraps up successful Afghanistan deployment

[Siesta]

Thought this would have been posted.. its been over two months..

Fighting Samurai deploys airpower to OEF
by 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/21/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 14th Fighter Squadron and 35th Aircraft Maintenance and Maintenance Squadrons at Misawa Air Base, Japan deployed to Southwest Asia on Aug. 13, 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The deployment marks another chapter in the Fighting Samurai's support to the Central Command area of responsibility and their mission during this deployment provides support during a critical phase in the drawdown of forces in Afghanistan. Taliban forces are stepping up efforts to target civilians with extreme violence and the 14 FS and 35th AMXS and MXS are deploying to help bring this to an end.

"This deployment to the CENTCOM area is not the first for our Airmen," said Col. Sam Shaneyfelt, 35th Operations Group commander. "Misawa Airmen have been continuously downrange before this deployment and will be there after the 14th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and 148th Fighter Wing return home."

The main focus for the 14 FS for the past six months has been the ability to deliver on-call close air support in support of International Security Assistance Force objectives. This required extensive day and night training at Misawa and a deployment to Green Flag in Nevada, where the 14 FS worked as a team with Army units and Joint Terminal Air Controllers.

"Specifically, the training was centered on urban areas, confusing target arrays and the ability to drop high-value targets in their tracks at a moment's notice," said Shaneyfelt. "Our pilots and maintainers honed our skill sets to the highest level and I'm exceedingly confident in their razor sharp capabilities."

Several F-16 fighter jets, pilots, maintainers and additional support staff from Misawa Air Base complete the aviation package necessary to help conduct the close air support mission for troops on the ground in Southwest Asia.

The 14 FS has also been busy with other projects outside of preparing for this deployment, like deploying to South Korea, assisting in Tsunami recovery, prepping for and a completing an Operational Readiness Inspection and other training exercises in the Pacific Region within the past two years.

"I'm incredibly proud of our Airmen," said Lt. Col. Gene Sherer, 14 FS commander. "We're fully prepared for this deployment and I'm confident our pilots and maintenance professionals are ready for this mission."

source: http://www.misawa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123315035

[Asif]

14th FS returns from Afghanistan. Mission marks on #90-0812

Maj. Kathryn Gaetke, 14th FS pilot, returns to Misawa AB on October 25th, 2012 in F-16C block 50 #90-0812 from the 14tg FS after being deployed to support OEF. [USAF photo by A1C. Kenna Jackson]