Kadena Eagles Secure Alaskan Skies

An expeditionary contingent of F-15Cs, pilots, and aircraft maintainers from Kadena AB, Japan, is currently deployed to JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of the Alaskan NORAD Region, announced NORAD officials. This group is operating in Alaska as the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The unit is responsible for protecting the airspace around Alaska and “intercepting any aircraft attempting to enter US or Canada airspace,” said Capt. Joshua Gunderson, 44th EFS electronic combat officer, in an Oct. 31 Elmendorf release. “We are also responsible for intercepting any aircraft that originate within the US not following their flight plan and/or showing signs of suspicious activity,” he added. The Kadena airmen are also taking advantage of their time in Alaska to fly with Elmendorf’s F-22s and to conduct low-altitude training in a mountainous region, something they cannot do back home on Okinawa. (Elmendorf report by MSgt. Mikal Canfield)