The pilot of an F-15 flying an air-to-air training mission out of Okinawa bailed out of his fighter before it crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 10 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2005. About 20 minutes later, an Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk team from the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, picked up the pilot, who is with Kadena’s 44th Fighter Squadron. Air Force officials say the fighter was a 1978-vintage F-15, tail # 498.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.