Airmen and aircraft from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, are bound for Afghanistan as part of USAF’s latest air and space expeditionary force. The base has deployed some 400 airmen from the 355th Fighter Squadron and 354th Maintenance Group. The maintainers worked in 12-hours shifts to get their A-10 Warthogs ready for the pilots who would fly them on the 11,000-mile trip.
In a rare letter to the entire force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S. operation against Iran.