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Date: September 22, 2009
The 115th Fighter Wing launched 14 F-16 fighter jets earlier today (Sept. 22) as a part of the
Wing's scheduled Air Expeditionary Force rotation that began last week when approximately 200
Airmen deployed to Iraq.
The F-16s will fly to a stopover location in Europe for a pilot rest period before continuing to
theater. It should be noted that take-off times are designed to correlate with specified arrival
times at their destination.
The Airmen are expected to serve for approximately two months before being relieved by the Iowa
Air National Guard from Des Moines. The 115th has previously deployed their aviation package in
support of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom in December 2004 to Qatar, and June 2006 and January
2008 to Iraq. Their mission is to support ground forces in Iraq with close air support and other
combat capabilities directed by the combatant commander.
This is an historic situation in that the Wisconsin National Guard has more than 3,200 Soldiers on
the ground in Iraq and they are among those the Wisconsin Air National Guard may support while
in-theater.
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Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Pilots from the 115th Fighter Wing step to their F-16 Fighting Falcons after receiving a
pre-departure briefing for their flight to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sept.
22. The 115th launched 14 F-16s early Tuesday morning as a part of the wing's scheduled Air
Expeditionary Force rotation that began last week, when approximately 200 Airmen deployed to theater.
Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Bell
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