F-16C #88-0471, 421st FS flagship on the ramp in front of a HAS, Balad AB fall 2004. [Photo via Scott Brown]

F-16C #88-0471 with balsa "model" honoring the 421st CO, Lt Col Chris "Wedge" Weggeman. [Photo via Scott Brown]

F-16C #88-0471 inside a HAS, Balad AB, Iraq in November 2004. [Photo by Scott Brown]

Close up of the tail of F-16C #88-0471 at Balad 2004. The aircraft is the boss bird for the 421st FS. [Photo by Scott Brown]

Typical loadout for the summer/fall timeframe at Balad. 2x slant load GBU-12, and 1x AiM-120. The 421st didn't routinely carry A2A missiles on the outboard wingtip stations. Also notice 88-0471 retains it's sidewinder specific missile rails. [Photo by Scott Brown]

Typical loadout for the summer/fall timeframe at Balad. 1x GBU-31 and 1x AiM-120. The 421st didn't routinely carry A2A missiles on the outboard wingtip stations. Also notice 88-0471 retains it's sidewinder specific missile rails. [Photo by Scott Brown]

Although the 421st utilized the LITENING II targeting pod during their '04 deployment to Balad, they also utilized the LANTIRN pod, shown mounted on 88-0471. [Photo by Scott Brown]

F-16C #88-0471 inside a HAS in the fall of 2004 at Balad AB, Iraq. [Photo by Scott Brown]

Close up of the tail of F-16 #89-2083 from the 524th FS at Cannon AFB, New Mexico in 2005. [Photo courtesy of Capt. Rob Brooks]