In 1975, the 71st moved to its current home with the 1st Fighter
Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., where it was equipped with the F-15
Eagle air superiority fighter in 1976.
The 71st garnered numerous awards in its distinguished career. The 71st
Fighter Squadron won the prestigious Hughes Achievement Trophy in 1999,
1993 and 1969, awarded annually to the most outstanding air superiority
unit in the Air Force. The 71st received the Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award and the Presidential Unit Citation on four occasions each. McDonnell
Douglas Aircraft Corporation recognized the 71st in July 1991, for
achieving 110,000 flying hours without a serious mishap.
The 71st TFS deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield as part of
the first U.S. Air Force contingent in Saudi Arabia. The squadron was
integral in establishing allied air-superiority during the operation. More
recently the squadron participated in Operation Southern Watch in the
Persian Gulf Region. The unit was redesigned the 71st Fighter Squadron
Sept. 1, 1991.
In a normal flying day, the 71st Fighter Squadron will launch
approximately 25 sorties to fly training missions in air-to-air combat,
aerial gunnery, and air defense intercepts.
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In 1976 we assumed the name of "Ironmen", originally as a result of our
fist of mail, but more appropriately a result of our high standards and
rigorous training. Numerous deployments, exercises, and aggressor visits
have continued to demonstrate the capabilities of the 71st Tactical
Fighter Squadron. As squadron knowledge of the F-15 increased, so did the
performance of the Eagle, and in 1982 saw the the 71st become the first
TAC squadron fully equipped with the factory new F-15C aircraft.
On 7 August 1990, the 71st deployed to Saudi Arabia as the first US
combat force to land in support of Operation Desert Shield. Over the next
5 months, the Ironmen flew nearly a year's worth of flying hours, over
13,000 hours and 3,300 sorties--all a prelude to war. In the early morning
hours of 17 January 1991, while sweeping the skies of Baghdad, the 71st
achieved one of the first aerial victories of DESERT STORM and we're proud
to say we helped pave the way for one of the most significant events in
the history of the USAF: complete and total domination of an adversary.
This feat was accomplished almost entirely by airpower, with the 71st
flying 1091 missions and 5881 hours in six short weeks. On 7 March 1991,
the 71st redeployed to Langley AFB. Virginia for a long awaited rest and
reunion. In May of the same year, the Ironmen received the McDonnell
Douglas Safety Achievement Award for sustained outstanding performance in
the field of flying safety.
Since the Gulf War, we have successfully supported Operation SOUTHERN
WATCH and the 4044th Wing (Provisional) with four deployments to Southwest
Asia. In 1992 we set the all time flying safety record for the F-15 with
124,790 hours of accident free flying. IRONMAN excellence continued after
returning from the Gulf by being rated "Outstanding" on the ACC Inspector
General's Operational Readiness Inspection in April of 1993. Ending that
same year, the squadron was recognized as the "Top Air Superiority Fighter
Squadron in the United States Air Force" with the reception of the Hughes
Trophy. In 1994, the local Air Force Association chapter honored the 71st
with the Outstanding Operational Squadron Award. During the 1995 SOUTHERN
WATCH rotation, the 71st broke numerous flying and maintenance records
which set the stage for the Ironmen to win the Air Combat Command
Maintenance Effectiveness Award in both 1995 and 1996. In 2002, the 71st
Fighter squadron was awarded the coveted Hughes/Raytheon Trophy for
Outstanding Aerial Achievement for a record 4th time!
Final F-15 departs Langley, 71 FS prepares to
inactivate
by Senior Airman Jarrod R.
Chavana
633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
9/2/2010 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The
last two operational F-15 Eagles soared out of Langley's air space, destined
for Portland, Ore., Sept. 1 as the historic Ironman squadron is scheduled to
be inactivated Sept. 30.
The 71st Fighter Squadron, also referred to as the Ironmen, generated over
4,000 sorties and logged over 5,400 flight hours annually, while Langley
Airmen were flying, repairing, fueling, and prepping the jets for every
sortie.
Col. Matthew Molloy, 1st Fighter Wing commander said the inactivation of the
71 FW means a lot of things to the 1FW, but most importantly it means the
end of a legacy.
"When the last wheels of the venerable Eagle leave the tarmac, it takes with
it 34 years of airpower and an overwhelming record of 104 enemy fighters
destroyed to zero F-15s lost," said Colonel Molloy. "Without a doubt, the
F-15s of Langley Air Force Base have left little question as to which
aircraft is the combat proven, preeminent air superiority fighter."
The F-15 aircraft are being sent to active duty bases within the United
States, overseas and National Guard Bases. Like the aircraft, the majority
of the pilots and maintenance personnel are being allocated to various
bases.
"It's pretty somber for all the personnel in the 71st," said Maj. Greg
Voelkel, 71 FS director of operations. "The 71st has a great history.
Everyone is pretty proud to serve and be part of the squadron."
Reassignment teams have come to Langley in order to place Airmen in
locations where their expertise could best be utilized.
"The last couple of weeks we've been working with an assignment team, the
team was here yesterday and today," said Chief Master Sgt. Carlos Taylor,
71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent. "We have a few guys that will
stay here and work on the Raptors at Langley, but 90 percent have been
reassigned to stateside bases."
Not only are the AMU Airmen being reassigned, but the majority of the pilots
have been given new assignments as well.
"Of the more than 30 pilots with the 71st Fighter Squadron, seven will
return to Langley to fly the F-22 Raptor after a three month spin up course
at Tyndall," said Major Voelkel.
Typically Airmen will not stay with a particular assignment throughout their
military career, he added. Airmen leaving Langley will be assigned to
different missions, such as becoming a liaison officer, or pilot training
instructor. Major Voelkel said the biggest difference is it's happening as
all at once due to the inactivation.
"With the departure of the F-15s, the air superiority torch will be passed
to the next generation of Air Force aircraft, the mighty F-22 Raptor," said
Colonel Molloy. "It is understood that the F-22 is still unproven in actual
combat, but all indicators from our local training sorties to the Air
Expeditionary Force deployments point to phenomenal potential. The 1st
Fighter Wing stands ready to employ this aircraft in the same 'first and
finest' standard as the F-15 Eagle. Until such time, the F-15 will remain
the watchful champion from either afar or in fighting formation, and will
reluctantly hand over the title to the F-22 with a simple 'job well done.'"
The end of an era: F-15 Eagles at Langley, 1976-2010
Commentary by Capt. Lee
Stewart
1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
6/23/2010 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Did you ever think the day would
come when an Eagle would not be the most familiar sight in the Langley sky?
Sadly, in the months to come, the very sight of an Eagle soaring across the
Langley sky will soon become an uncommon phenomenon. Moreover, after a
34-year proud heritage, it is time for "the changing the guard" at Langley
Air Force Base.
The mighty F-15 Eagle will step aside and allow the "new kid on the block,"
the F-22 Raptor, to don the crown and set in motion a storyline that will
someday solidify its own place in history.
The ending of an era began June 21 as the last squadron of F-15 eagles
readied themselves for deactivation. The first two F-15 eagles, brandishing
serial numbers 82-0024 and 83-0026, departed for their new home at Nellis
AFB, Nev. These are two of four F-15s the 71st Fighter Squadron will
transfer to the 433d Weapons Squadron at Nellis.
The remaining F-15s assigned to Langley will begin leaving over the next
three months for new homes with the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan, the
142nd Fighter Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., and the 159th
Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station New Orleans, La. The last aircraft should
go "wheels up" mid-September, closing the final chapter in the 1st Fighter
Wing's F-15 history book.
The Eagle will truly be missed as part of the aircraft inventory here at
Langley. In its maturity, the F-15 represented assurance and certainty for
the 1 FW. When called, you could guarantee we would be there raring to go,
ready to get the job done. Consequently, due to its venerable performance,
the Eagle recently earned the joking nickname, "an aircraft without a
mission." It became the sixth man warming the bench, or the pinch hitter
waiting in the dugout for a call that never came.
This absence gave maintainers and operators the opportunity to fine tune
their skills both in the air and on the ground, posturing a team that was
always ready. The skills of operators, maintainers and a touch of technology
heightened by the quick recovery of the F-15 is what made this aircraft the
most formidable air superiority fighter to date, and that is why this
aircraft will be highly missed by all who have flown and or maintained it
until the F-22 Raptor reaches full maturation.
Ironmen accomplish first active duty flight using new
radar system
by Airman 1st Class Jason J.
Brown
633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
5/13/2010 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The
71st Fighter Squadron launched the first active duty F-15 Eagle equipped
with Boeing's Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system May 12.
Boeing technicians installed the AESA radar, known as the V3, on the first
of eight F-15s to receive the upgrade. Lt. Col. Joel Cook, 71 FS commander,
piloted the aircraft during the operational check flight.
"The
71 FS was very fortunate to be the first active duty unit to fly with it,"
said Cook. "[Boeing's] hard work and diligence made the flight possible and
a huge success."
Eric Petrucci, a Boeing V3 representative, said the V3 represents a
significant advance in radar technology.
Lt. Col. Joel Cook, 71st Fighter Squadron commander,
taxis in an F-15 Eagle equipped with the V3 radar, May 12. The flight marks
the first active-duty operational flight in the Air Force for the radar,
which will turn the F-15s into multirole fighters. (U.S. Air Force
photo/Airman 1st Class Gul Crockett)
"The system substantially increases the power of the Air Force F-15C, making
it more lethal and less vulnerable than ever before," he said.
Using active electronic beam scanning, which allows the radar beam to be
steered at nearly the speed of light, the V3 radar optimizes situational
awareness and provides superior air-to-air capability, Petrucci added.
Cook said the radar "performed flawlessly," and that he and the squadron
look forward to increasing their capability and lethality with the upgraded
fighters.
71 FS huge success at biennial FANG Flag
by Senior Airman Sylvia Olson
633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
3/24/2010 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Ten
71st Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagles returned home March 20 after a two-week
exercise at the Savannah International Airport, Ga.
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Lt. Col. Joel Cook, 71st
Fighter Squadron commander, greets Col. Dirk Smith, 1st Operations Group
commander, during his homecoming March 20. Ten F-15C Eagles from the 71 FS
joined aircraft and personnel from five other bases to take part in a
two-week exercise, FANG Flag, in Savannah, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman
Rebecca Montez)
Langley joined five other bases in a large
force employment exercise, FANG Flag, March 6-20.
"The mission centered on gaining and maintaining air superiority against an
advanced air threat," said Lt. Col. Joel Cook, 71 FS commander.
And maintaining they did, as the 71 FS pilots achieved 100 percent of the
149 sorties allocated, flew 18 incentive sorties for assigned personnel, and
certified three 4-ship leads and a mission commander, Cook said.
Throughout the exercise, the 71 FS integrated with the Jacksonville Air
National guard in all aspects. Missions included defensive counter air,
offensive counter air and dynamic targeting; however there was no delivery
of live ordnance or actual target destruction, and all air-to-ground
training was simulated.
The fighter squadron's F-15s enhanced the capabilities of the mission with
their updated radar, joint-helmet mounted cueing system and updated
heat-seeking missile, Cook said.
"Our maintenance and support personnel worked side-by-side throughout the
exercise," Cook said. "In addition, our operators seamlessly operated
together to include combined formations during the LFE exercises."
Participating bases and aircraft included: F-15Cs from Langley AFB and 125th
Fighter Wing, Florida ANG, F-18s from Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station,
S.C., F-16s from 169th Fighter Wing McEntire ANG, S.C., E-3A Airborne
Warning and Control Systems from Tinker AFB, Calif., and KC-135s from
MacDill AFB, Fla.
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"The Eagles are released from
the Cage"
“by
Airman 1st Class Chase Skylar DeMayo
1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
1/8/2008 - LANGLEY AIR
FORCE BASE, Va. -- After a month-long stand-down, the 71st Fighter
Squadron launched the first of their F-15C fleet Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Eagle pilots and maintainers quickly responded to the announcement by Gen.
John D.W. Corley, commander of ACC, that the Eagle was ready to soar again.
Lt.
Col. Robert Garland, 71st FS commander, led the six-ship Eagle formation on
its first flight in more than a month, reinstating the Ironmen as a lethal
weapon for the United States.
"The Eagles are released from the cage," said Colonel Garland. "The 1st
Fighter Wing will once again have three combat mission ready fighter
squadrons to utilize at a moment's notice. We have been waiting 44 days for
this announcement - we're ready to get right back in the game."
The pilots who lost currency due to not flying for several weeks will be
expected to launch and land their jet with an instructor pilot in order to
continue missions they flew prior to the stand-down. Although certain
qualifications were lost, the Ironmen were able to spend more time on
training - in and out of the classroom.
"Our pilots were able to work on academics during the stand-down, ensuring
the most senior pilot and the newest pilot are on the same page to better
our flying operations," said Colonel Garland. "Although we weren't able to
fly, our squadron was able to maintain the same standards we always have."
During the stand-down, maintainers were able to keep up with all of their
training and requirements. The long weeks and hours maintainers put into the
more than 20-year-old jets leaves little time for ancillary training or
keeping up with their career development courses.
"It's been an interesting month," said Senior Airman Michael McCann, 1st
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "We were willing to do whatever it
took to launch our jets again."
Since 1976, the Ironmen have led the way for other Air Combat Command F-15
bases, taking an active role in Operation Desert Storm and most recently
Operation Noble Eagle.
"We knew it was important to maintain all of our standards here and launch
as soon as we could," said Airman McCann. "We want people to say, 'If the
Ironmen are launching, then the other F-15 bases are ready.'"
