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.