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.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3