389th FS returns home from Red Flag

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Megan P. Lyon
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  A dozen F-15E Strike Eagles and 170 Airmen from the 389th Fighter Squadron and other wing units returned to Mountain Home AFB Jan. 26 after a successful completion of Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nev.

Red Flag is a two-week, multi-national, advanced aerial combat training exercise that takes place at only two bases in the Air Force: Nellis AFB and Eielson AFB, Alaska.

"Red Flag was a big test for us," said Lt. Col. Richard Coe, 389th FS commander. "Only nine months ago the 389th FS was converted from an F-16 squadron to an F-15E squadron. Our only other deployment was to Combat Archer this past November. Red Flag is a more robust training scenario, built to test all of our multirole capabilities."

During Red Flag, participants played as the blue force versus a fictional enemy, the red force. The opposing teams faced-off in realistic combat situations to improve their ability to target and defeat hostile air, surface-to-air, space and information threats from enemies.

"Red Flag began as a way to save pilots' lives during the Vietnam War," said Maj. Allan Nilles, 389th FS assistant director of operations. "During the war, statistics were showing that most pilots that died did so during their first 10 combat missions. Red Flag offered pilots the opportunity to fly 10 realistic combat missions in a safe training environment."

"Over 50 percent of our aircrew had never been to Red Flag," said Colonel Coe. "Many of those same crews are brand new and only recently achieved combat-ready status. I am so proud of what the squadron accomplished and they way they professionally executed the mission. Everyone did an outstanding job."

Over nine days the Airmen's experiences included night flying, engaging hostile targets, flying tactical missions and live bomb drops.

"We hit 100 percent of our heavyweight deliveries," said Colonel Coe.
"It was textbook execution."

In addition to playing the host wing and having Col. Mark Kelly, 366th Fighter Wing vice commander, acting as the Red Flag air expeditionary wing commander, Mountain Home AFB also provided core elements, such as weather, intelligence, operations and maintenance personnel.

"Everybody worked hard, especially the maintainers," said Colonel Coe. "During the entire duration of the deployment, we never lost a sortie due to maintenance issues."

Airmen not only worked with fellow U.S. Air Force Airmen but with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, flying F-16s from Luke AFB, Canada's Air Force, flying CC-130 Hercules aircraft and NATO personnel flying the E-3 Sentry, an airborne warning and control system aircraft. It also marked the first time the 389th FS flew large force integration missions with the F-22 Raptors from Langley AFB, Va.

"This was my seventh Red Flag in my 18 years in the Air Force and it was the best performance I've seen," said Colonel Coe. "Considering the level of experience of our Ops and Maintenance folks, what we accomplished was truly incredible. Once again, Gunfighters are leading the way in our Air Force."