The airmen of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, recently completed the unit’s 2,500th combat sortie flying the EC-130H Compass Call for Operation Iraqi Freedom, ably supported by the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s Silver team, which covers the electronic attack aircraft. Airmen of both units are deployed from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Since the first OIF deployment for the 43rd EECS in March 2004, the unit has flown more than 17,500 combat hours. At most, the unit has had three aircraft in theater at a time. Lt. Col. Robert Stonemark, leader of the 43rd EECS, credited the “outstanding dedication, hard work, and selflessness on the part of maintainers, aircrew, and support troops.” (43rd ECCS report by MSgt. Max Rippel)
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
