F-16 Fighting Falcon News

January 18, 2007 (by Asif Shamim) - Air National Guardsmen and F-16s from Selfridge Air National Guard Base arrived in Iraq last week to fly missions as part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, according to a press release.
The 127th Wing will be providing air-to-air and air-to-ground combat operations and close air support to U.S. ground forces, officials said. Their primary focus is to make sure aircraft and pilots get off the ground for aerial missions, and their duties include aircraft maintenance, fuels, weapons and life support.

The 107th Fighter Squadron has been flying the F-16s since 1989, and in 2004 the unit was deployed to Iraq and was the first to be operationally based inside the Iraqi border. The current deployment has been anticipated for months, officials said.

The 127th Wing has deployed 40 airmen to various bases in southwest Asia in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Their duties include supply, communications, vehicle maintenance, medical personnel, and fuels.