First Lady, the first production C-130 Hercules, is retired in ceremonies at Duke Field, Fla. This aircraft, which was first flown on April 7, 1955, had a distinguished career, including more than 4,500 combat hours in Southeast Asia after it was converted into a gunship. First Lady was later retired to the USAF Armament Museum at Eglin AFB, Fla.
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.