Nearly 100 airmen and six F-16s from the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, arrived at the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s base at Chitose on the northern island of Hokkaido, according to a release. The Misawa contingent, which touched down on July 8, is there for a week of air combat training with Japanese F-15Js as part of an aviation training relocation mission, states the July 9 release. As part of the training, the F-16s simulated an incursion into the airspace around Chitose, to which the F-15Js responded. (Misawa report by SrA. Derek Van Horn)
When Airmen eject, the mission is clear: America leaves no warrior behind. Airmen are trained to survive, evade, resist, and escape the enemy, and everyone from ground crew to rescue personnel and commanders are committed to doing everything necessary—and possible—to bring downed Airmen home.