Forum: General F-16 forum

All posted DVIC photos are now linked to their new URLs and visible again. Very Happy

That should be very important, especially for new users of F-16.net. To recover some of the posted private shots (not more online today) I will check my HD, and I would be very grateful for any related support. From the topic <a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-4207.html">Balad Air Base Deployment Update</a> and my archives I created a listing of all F-16 units which deployed to the CENTCOM AOR after OIF´s main combat phase (including deployed aircraft which are identified by their serial numbers). After cross-checking by some of my F-16.net friends I will publish this listing on our website.

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Just found: Nice private photo stuff from F-16 crew chief SSgt. Ronald W. Stokes (138th FW) who was deployed with an ANG "Rainbow Team" to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, during the AEF 5/6 (Cycle 5) rotation (May - August 2005): http://www.lostvalleyphoto.net/OKF16Iraq.asp

Also just found via "Google": Lt. Col. Ned "Mob" Linch, F-16 pilot from the 187th FW (Alabama ANG) about his deployment for OIF´s main combat phase in earlier 2003 at Al Azraq AB, Jordan (410th AEW): http://www.n4ls.com/Flying.php

Please check my related previews already posted above! And please also check chapter six "410th AEW" of the book "F-16 Fighting Falcon Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom", Steve Davies & Doug Dildy, Osprey Combat Aircraft 61.

Also on Monday this week, I searched "Google" for OIF Viper pictures again. And I found the following very interesting stuff in the photo section of www.defencetalk.com. They are all related to Vipers which deployed for OIF´s main combat phase to the 379th AEW at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. And they are absolute new to me, and all of them should be private shots, uploaded on October 27, 2007, and on November 1, 2007, by an unknown user called "barra". Very interesting are the different combat loadouts.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000067.JPG
Unfortunately only a low-res picture! But just behind a RAAF F/A-18 at Al Udeid AB, clearly visible are 93-0535, 93-0537 and 93-0539 – all three from the 157th FS. Anybody with a super hi-res screen who can identify the "MO" jet, "borrowed" from the 389th FS?

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000066.JPG
Visible at left just behind the RAAF F/A-18 are some F-16s, visible at right are three U.S. Navy Tomcats and some USAF Vipers, three from the 389th FS and two from the 157th FS.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000108.JPG
92-3903 from the 157th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Probably a typical SEAD loadout: AIM-120s on stations 9 and 8, AGM-88 on station 7, HTS pod on station 5R, ALQ-184(V)1 (long) ECM pod on station 5, at least an AIM-120 and an AIM-9 under the left wing. Anybody who can identify their associated stations?

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000107.JPG
93-0543 from the 157th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Loadout: AIM-120s on stations 9 and 8, GBU-31 JDAM on station 7, Litening II targeting pod on station 5R, ALQ-184(V)1 (long) ECM pod on station 5, at least an AIM-9 under the left wing (probably including another GBU-31 JDAM on station 3). Anybody who can identify the associated AIM-9 station on the left wing?

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000105.JPG
91-0370 from the 389th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Probably the same loadout.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... ture12.jpg
90-0829, marked 22 FS, April 2003. Visible loadout: AIM-120 on station 1, AIM-9 on station 2, AGM-88 on station 3, ALQ-131 (deep) ECM pod on station 5, HTS pod on station 5R. Please also note the unique red mission markings below the canopy.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... ture13.jpg
90-0829, marked 22 FS, April 2003. Full loadout: AIM-120 on station 1, AIM-9 on station 2, AGM-88 on station 3, ALQ-131 (deep) ECM pod on station 5, HTS pod on station 5R, AGM-88 on station 7, AIM-120s on stations 8 and 9.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... ure111.jpg
Unidentified 157th FS jet. Visible loadout: AIM-120 on station 1, AIM-9 on station 2, AGM-88 on station 3, ALQ-184(V)-1(long) ECM pod on station 5, Litening II targeting pod on station 5R, AGM-88 on station 7, AIM-120s on stations 8 and 9.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... ture10.jpg
92-3911from the 157th FS. Visible loadout: AIM-120 on station 1, AIM-9 on station 2, AGM-88 on station 3, ALQ-184(V)-1(long) ECM pod on station 5, Litening II targeting pod on station 5R.

Please note: At least most of these pictures taken on the ground were photographed at Al Udeid´s first tactical (fighter) ramp, especially built for OIF´s main combat phase. Meanwhile, according to newest satellite imagery – provided for public by "Google" - , this huge desert air base is still growing… As released for public by USAF, since a couple of months, the 379th AEW also hosts all B-1B Lancer missions for OIF and OEF. Formerly, the Lancers were mainly deployed to Diego Garcia – British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). And since them, I got no info about further B-52H Stratofortress OEF deployments to this air base.

To avoid any possible "OPSEC attack" from some of our users, in this forum I will not disclose "Google´s" URL. Please simply try out the web!

So I hope, all hot-linked photo URLs from www.defencetalk.com should be correct. If not, please send me a PM!

J.J. wrote:

............Unfortunately only a low-res picture! But just behind a RAAF F/A-18 at Al Udeid AB, clearly visible are 93-0535, 93-0537 and 93-0539 – all three from the 157th FS. Anybody with a super hi-res screen who can identify the "MO" jet, "borrowed" from the 389th FS??...........

Hey J.J.,

WOW - very nice findings!! Great photos and very interesting to see the Litening / HARM combo - a first for me to say the least!!

J.J., my "eyes" see 92-3880 as the "MO" marked jet in the above mentioned photo.

Greetings and keep up Your great work,

Henrik.

Thanks for your reply, Henrik! But interpreting this photo stuff is not easy.

J.J. wrote:

[...] http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000108.JPG
92-3903 from the 157th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Probably a typical SEAD loadout: AIM-120s on stations 9 and 8, AGM-88 on station 7, HTS pod on station 5R, ALQ-184(V)1 (long) ECM pod on station 5, at least an AIM-120 and an AIM-9 under the left wing. Anybody who can identify their associated stations?

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000107.JPG
93-0543 from the 157th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Loadout: AIM-120s on stations 9 and 8, GBU-31 JDAM on station 7, Litening II targeting pod on station 5R, ALQ-184(V)1 (long) ECM pod on station 5, at least an AIM-9 under the left wing (probably including another GBU-31 JDAM on station 3). Anybody who can identify the associated AIM-9 station on the left wing?

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000105.JPG
91-0370 from the 389th FS taxi at Al Udeid AB. Probably the same loadout. [...]

If I remember right (and also according to Jake Melampy´s book "The Modern Viper Guide - The F-16C/D Exposed"), especially in combat operations the AIM-9 is only loaded on stations 2 and 8.

Some corrections:

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000108.JPG
Sorry! But on the left wing, there´s 100 % a second AGM-88 on station 3 (not an AIM-120), and an AIM-9 on station 2.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000107.JPG
On the left wing AIM-9 on station 2.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/dat ... 000105.JPG
On the left wing AIM-9 on station 2.

The problem: In all three USAF pictures station 1 on the left wingtip is not really visible. It could be that this station is empty after single AIM-120 shots and the jets taxi after returning to their base. But I´m not sure. Anybody who can/will clear up that?

Two days ago, on http://www.webshots.com I found the following four private shots of F-16s, uploaded by a service member (user name "srafoster") on September 15, 2005, as part of his album "The Deid": http://travel.webshots.com/album/451273048ukDPTS. These pictures were taken at Al Udeid AB, Qatar, during the AEF 5/6 (Cycle 5) rotation (May – August 2005). They are showing eight of twelve deployed ANG "Rainbow Team" Vipers.

Best shot:
http://image54.webshots.com/154/4/62/71 ... fGH_fs.jpg
Visible from right to left are the tails of:
- unidentified 125th FS jet (tailcode OK and painted Indian head)
- 90-0731, 124th FS (painted Viper head) [already identified as deployed]
- 112th FS jet (tailcode OH) – because at that time this squadron owned no "086" that must be 89-2085 [new identified as deployed]
- unidentified 112th FS jet (tailcode OH) [Anybody with a better photo software who can read the last three digits of the serial number?]
- 112th FS jet (without OH tailcode, but with the unique painted "Stinger Bee") – that must be 89-2098 (marked 180 FW) [new identified as deployed]
- unidentified 125th FS jet (tailcode OK and painted Indian head)
- unidentified 124th FS jet (painted Viper head)
- unidentified 124th FS jet (painted Viper head)

The three other pics:
http://image61.webshots.com/61/4/70/11/ ... JCY_fs.jpg
http://image54.webshots.com/154/4/76/18 ... Kik_fs.jpg
http://image63.webshots.com/63/4/80/17/ ... kXF_fs.jpg

Looks like all of these shots were taken from a car or a bus during a base tour. The location is Al Udeid´s original sun roof parking area, consisting of two roofs for six fighter jets each, and only protected by hardened walls. But meanwhile, according to latest public satellite imagery from "Google Earth" on this air base a second such sun roof parking area is erected, alongside with some more extensions...

According to that, I updated my archived info as following:

AEF 5/6 (Cycle 5) rotation (May – August 2005)

ANG "Rainbow Team"

12 F-16CG Block 42

124th FS "Vipers", 132nd FW (Iowa ANG), Des Moines IAP, Des Moines, Iowa

90-0731 Block 42H [USAF photo, taken at Moron AB] [airliners.net photo by Rob Tabor]

125th FS, 138th FW (Oklahoma ANG), Tulsa (OK)

89-2017 Block 42E [USAF Desert Eagle photo]
89-2031 Block 42E [USAF photo, taken at Moron AB]
89-2138 Block 42G, marked 138 FW
89-2145 Block 42H, marked 125 FS

112th FS "Stingers", 180th FW (Ohio ANG), Toledo Express AP (OH)

89-2085 [NEW identified by private shot]
89-2098 (marked 180 FW) [NEW identified by private shot]

Anybody who can/will add some more verified serial numbers to complete this ANG deployment for the history books?

We would be very grateful for any support!

Also on http://www.webshots.com I found the following private shot of a fully armed 157th FS Viper, taken at Al Udeid AB during OIF´s main combat phase in spring 2003: http://image08.webshots.com/8/0/45/13/2 ... jQW_fs.jpg

Related to other aircraft pictures of this album (including an F-117A in the protected sun roof parking area), it looks to me like these shots were taken during an "internal open house" for allied service members just after the battle. See album "Al Udeid AB, Qatar", created by "kennethj005" on December 2, 2006: http://travel.webshots.com/album/556170826bVvlGj

By searching "Google" for Viper pictures again, I just found the following very interesting shot:

http://images.military.com/MemberImageU ... 265/265504

Main source:
http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages ... ?id=600520

Related to the main source (and also to the non-desert style uniforms of the ground personnel) it looks to me like a private shot of 120th FS pilot Curt (Curtis) Hughes just after returning back home at CONUS. He was among the ANG´s "Rocky Mountain Coalition" (Colorado, Montana, New Mexico) which deployed as the very first F-16 unit to Balad AB, Iraq, during the AEF 9/10 (Cycle 4) rotation (June - August 2004). This ANG "Rainbow Team" was called 332nd EFS "Red Tails" (see the fin flash of another Viper just behind). Take a closer look to the official deployment patch on the pilot´s right arm and also to the mission markings on this unidentified Viper! The first row of bombs shows ten GBU-12s and three "huge" bombs (possibly GBU-31 JDAMs). The second row shows two also "huge" but "slim" bombs (unidentified by me) and another GBU-12. Any comments to further verify these bomb markings?

WOW! On http://www.military.com I just logged in for 120th Fighter Squadron. And it looks to me that I can send a message to Curt. If yes, that would be great!

He´s an O-5, Lieutenant Colonel, and resides in Colorado. Meanwhile, after logging in on www.military.com, I got some info of Curt´s bio. But I will not share that in this open topic.

In the next couple of days, I will check www.military.com for further F-16-related connections.

Recently we obtained a fairly good selection of over 20 pictures covering 14th FS & AFRC PSAB deployments discussed in pages 3-6 of this topic. Serials identified in the uploaded photoscover the following:

363rd AEW, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia

14th FS "Fightin´ Samurai", 35th FW (PACAF), Misawa AB, Japan (tail code: WW)

91-0399 Block 50D
91-0400 Block 50D
91-0411 Block 50D
91-0423 Block 50D
92-3886 Block 50P 13th FS marked as 14th FS
92-3893 Block 50P
92-3894 Block 50P
92-3895 Block 50P

In December 2002, six AFRC F-16+ Block 30 were deployed to Prince Sultan AB as part of the regularly scheduled AEF 7/8 (Cycle 3) rotation December 2002 – February 2003).

93rd FS "Makos", 482nd FW (AFRC), Homestead ARB, Florida (tail code: FM)

88-0404 Block 30K

457th FS, 301st FW (AFRC), NAS Fort Worth JRB (Carswell Field), Texas (tail code: TX)

85-1449 Block 30A

Some of which are shown here:

Pilots from the 14th EFS pose in front of F-16C block 50 #92-3886 at PSAB during their OIF deployment on March 21st, 2003.

USAF F-16C block 50s #92-3886 (from 13th FS, marked up as 14th FS) & #91-0399 (13th FS) seen at PSAB during their OIF deployment on May 19th, 2003.

Mission markings on USAF F-16C block 50 #91-0399 from the 13th FS during their deployment for OIF at PSAB on May 19th, 2003.

Mission markings on USAF F-16C block 50 #92-3886 from the 13th FS (marked up as 14th FS) during their deployment for OIF at PSAB on May 19th, 2003.

Asif wrote:

In December 2002, six AFRC F-16+ Block 30 were deployed to Prince Sultan AB as part of the regularly scheduled AEF 7/8 (Cycle 3) rotation December 2002 – February 2003).

93rd FS "Makos", 482nd FW (AFRC), Homestead ARB, Florida (tail code: FM)

88-0404 Block 30K

457th FS, 301st FW (AFRC), NAS Fort Worth JRB (Carswell Field), Texas (tail code: TX)

85-1449 Block 30A

Hi Asif,

You can add the following AFRC Vipers to the list above.

93rd FS / 482nd FW - 86-0266
457th FS / 301st FW - 85-1402

466th FS / 419th FW - 87-0290 marked "419th OG".
466th FS / 419th FW - 87-0338

Greetings,

Henrik.

Hi Henrik,

My listing only covered the actual photos received. But good to know about the rest. Very Happy

I have photos of our unit at PSAB 2002/2003 before we got forward deployed for OIF, gotta find them....

guys, did the California ANG's 144th Fighter Wing ever deployed to Iraq? Confused

Forum: General F-16 forum

Operation Iraqi Freedom (F-16 Combat History)