About a dozen F-16s and nearly 300 airmen from Hill AFB, Utah, deployed to Osan AB, South Korea, earlier this month as part of a theater security package, according to base officials. “Part of this deployment includes an exercise to test our airmen’s ability to respond on short notice,” said 388th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Lance Landrum. “The combat scenarios they experience are as realistic as they come,” he added in the Jan. 15 release. Both Active Duty airmen from the 388th FW and Air Force Reserve Command associate 419th FW deployed together on the several month Asia-Pacific rotation, officials said. “Many of our Reservists here at Hill are seasoned veterans with multiple deployments under their belts,” noted 419th FW Commander Col. Bryan Radliff. “Our Reserve airmen are committed to supporting our Active Duty counterparts.” (Separate Hill release on deployment)
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
