Gen. William Fraser, US Transportation Command boss, delivered a factory-fresh C-130J transport to Dyess AFB, Tex., bringing the size of the base’s Super Hercules fleet to 22 airframes. Fraser flew in the airplane, aircraft number 5701, from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Marietta, Ga., on Aug. 29, according to a company release. Dyess’ 317th Airlift Group is slated to receive a total of 28 C-130Js to replace its legacy C-130Hs. The final deliveries are scheduled in 2013. With a force of that size, Dyess will become the largest C-130J operator in the world, say Air Force and Lockheed Martin officials. (Dyess photo caption by A1C Peter Thompson)
Less than a day after arriving in the Middle East, F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. defended Israel from an Iranian attack in April 2024. DUDE flight, four F-15Es from the 335th Fighter Squadron, downed two dozen Iranian drones in roughly 45 minutes.