115th Fighter Wing launches jets to Iraq

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  • 115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 115th Fighter Wing launched 14 F-16 fighter jets 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.

The F-16s will fly to a stopover location in Europe for a pilot rest period before continuing to Iraq. 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 Southwest Asia, 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.