The 433rd Weapons Squadron began providing advanced
instructor training to experienced F-15 pilots on 3 January 1978 as the
433rd Fighter Weapons School. On 1 June 1981, the 433 FWS was
deactivated and re-designated as the USAF Fighter Weapons School F-15
Division. On 3 February 2003, the unit was re-designated the 433rd
Weapons Squadron.
Despite changes in name, the 433 WPS has held fast to the tradition of
producing the world's greatest air supremacy pilots. To date, the 433
WPS has graduated 424 F-15C patch wearers who have helped preserve the
Eagle's undefeated record in combat, ensuring U.S. air superiority over
the past 30 years. Twelve F-15C Weapons School graduates have accounted
for 18 of the 38 USAF F-15C air-to-air victories
81-033 F-15C 433rd Weapons Squadron at
Nellis AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Official Air Force news
publication;
01/16/2008 - NELLIS AIR
FORCE BASE, Nev. -- More than two months after a Missouri Air
National Guard F-15C broke up in mid-flight, the first F-15 A-D models
returned to the air Jan. 9 at Nellis AFB after Air Combat Command
commander, Gen. John D. W. Corley, ordered 60 percent of the Air Force's
A-D model's to return to flying status.
After thorough inspection by the 57th Equipment Maintenance Squadron,
Non-Destructive Inspection Lab, 13 of the 25 F-15 A-D model aircraft
have been cleared to fly.
The remaining 12 aircraft, which come from various units across the
base, will remain grounded until further notice.
The first Nellis pilot in the air was Lt. Col. Gary "Tonka" Rose, 433rd
Weapons Squadron (F-15C) director of operations, who took off from the
Nellis flightline three minutes after the 6:52 a.m. Las Vegas sunrise.
"Being the first pilot in the air was complete luck of the draw--any of
our squadron pilots were qualified to fly the first sortie," Colonel
Rose said.
Squadron sorties were dedicated to regaining landing currency and
demanding mission currency, which most pilots lost during the two-month
F-15A-D stand down.
Four of the pilots from the 433rd WPS, including Colonel Rose, still had
remaining proficiency to fly, so when the green flag was given for the
eagles to fly, the WPS pilots returned to the air and conducted basic
fighter maneuver engagements.
In these one-on-one sorties, pilots push their aircraft to its limits to
defeat an adversary in mock air-to-air combat, said Colonel Rose.
During the grounding, the 433rd WPS was able to graduate six weapons
officers from class 07B, but they were unable to complete all portions
of the course, including Mission Employment and Dissimilar Air Combat
Training.
"To make up for the lost flight-time, The 433rd WPS executed
short-notice temporary duty assignments to accomplish large force
exercises in the distributed mission operations facilities at both Eglin
AFB, Fla., and Langley AFB, Va., as well as completing the academics
portion of the course," "Tonka" continued.
To get through this time using limited resources while still completing
the mission, various units are banning together.
"This is one of the most difficult challenges we are facing. Currently
we are working with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron and 65th
Aggressor Squadron to combine resources so we may accomplish various,
extremely important missions," he continued.
The 57th Wing maintenance professionals are working hard to keep the
limited number of F-15s at Nellis in the air, Colonel Rose said.
