Operation Iraqi Freedom



  • 93-0552_001.jpg
    Members of 77th AMU position F-16C block 50 #93-0552 from the 55th FS for an engine run up on July 16th, 2008 at Balad AB. The links and bar attached to the arresting hook secures the aircraft to the ground to prevent any movement and ensure the safety of the Airmen on the ground. The run up of the engine to full afterburner allows the engine mechanics and crew chiefs to ensure all systems are fully functional before putting the fighter back into operational use. [USAF photo by SrA. Julianne Showalter]
  • Balad.JPEG
    USAF personnel from a Balad AB, Iraq work to secure a F-16 shortly after landing in support of OIF on May 27th, 2004. [USAF photo by TSgt. Keith Brown]
  • 85-1482.jpg
    Weapons specialists assigned to the 332nd EFS check the munitions on F-16C block 30s #85-1482 & #85-1565 from the 138th FS before a combat mission over Iraq on July 8th, 2008 at Balad AB. The personnel and aircraft are both deployed from the 174th FW at Hancock Field ANGB. The 174th FW will become the first Air Guard unit to adopt an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system mission when it returns from its deployment to Iraq. [USAF photo by SrA. Julianne Showalter]
  • 85-1559.jpg
    Lt. Col. Gary Middlebrooks, piloting F-16C block 30 #85-1559 from the 175th FS, waits in a hot pit area near a taxiway at Balad AB for his wingman as sunset approaches on August 17th, 2008. Fighters taxi to hot pit areas before takeoff so Airmen can ready the aircrafts' weapons systems for combat. [USAF photo by MSgt. Nancy Ausland]
  • 85-1559_001.jpg
    Lt. Col. Gary Middlebrooks, piloting F-16C block 30 #85-1559 from the 175th FS, waits in a hot pit area near a taxiway at Balad AB for his wingman as sunset approaches on August 17th, 2008. Fighters taxi to hot pit areas before takeoff so Airmen can ready the aircrafts' weapons systems for combat. [USAF photo by MSgt. Nancy Ausland]
  • OIF_001.jpg
    A dust devil blows through the airfield near an F-16C at Balad AB on August 28th, 2008. The aircraft was in the north de-arm area after returning from a mission. The flat terrain, clear skies and light wind typical of summers there makes dust devils a common phenomenon. While they can reach more than 1,000 meters in height, they are much less intense than tornadoes. [USAF photo by Capt. Jeffrey Godzik]
  • 90-0826.jpg
    Airmen with the 77th EFS tow F-16C block 50 #90-0826 assigned to the 77th EFS toward a hangar on September 2nd, 2008 at Balad AB. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]
  • 85-1432.jpg
    USAF F-16Cs block 30 #85-1432 from the 138th FS (foreground) and #85-1448 from the 175th FS wait out a haboob at Balad AB on September 8th, 2008. Haboobs are sandstorms that results from the collapse of thunderstorms and the resulting downdrafts. The dust carried by a haboob can rise several kilometers in the sky and winds can travel upwards of 30 mph. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]
  • 89-2105.jpg
    Airmen with the 332nd EAMXS move F-16C block 40 #89-2105 from the 421st FS into a hangar at Balad AB on September 8th, 2008, to protect it from a haboob - a sandstorm that results from the collapse of a thunderstorm cell. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]
  • 89-2034.jpg
    USAF F-16Cs block 42 #89-2034, #89-2022, 89-2019 and #88-0539 from the 125th FS arrive at Balad AB on September 18th, 2008. The aircraft are assigned to the 332nd EFS for a two-month deployment. [USAF photo by TSgt. Richard Lisum]
  • 125FS_003.jpg
    A USAF F-16C from the 125th FS waits in front of a HAS at Balad AB on September 24th, 2008. The aircraft is deployed to the 332nd EFS. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]
  • 125FS_001_001.jpg
    A USAF F-16C from the 125th FS waits in front of a HAS at Balad AB on September 24th, 2008. The aircraft is deployed to the 332nd EFS. [USAF photo by A1C. Jason Epley]
  • 90-0702.jpg
    USAF F-16C block 42 #90-0702 from the 112th FS and assigned to the 332nd EFS takes off from Balad AB on September 29th, 2008. [USAF photo by TSgt. Erik Gudmundson]
  • 90-0702_001.jpg
    USAF F-16C block 42 #90-0702 from the 112th FS and piloted by Lt. Col. David 'Surge' Serage takes off from Balad AB for an armed overwatch mission on October 2nd, 2008. The mission was Serage's 100th combat sortie since joining the Air Force in 1989. [USAF photo by SSgt. Don Branum]
  • 180FW_005.jpg
    An F-16 is serviced on the flightline at Moron AB after 'Coronet East' lands on September 25th, 2005. The Air Force reservists from the 180th FW are on their way home after supporting OIF. Coronet East is a title given to a group of jet fighters flying with necessary tankers for air refueling and an air transport with necessary maintenance support in tow. [USAF photo by MSgt. John E. Lasky]