Eielson AFB Aircraft Fly Formation for Last Time

The Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 series of exercises has given the KC-135Rs of the 16th Air Refueling Wing, the F-16CGs of the 18th Fighter Squadron and the A/OA-10s of the 355th Fighter Squadron (all based at Alaska's Eielson Air Force Base) to fly in formation for the last time. The two fighter squadrons are being deactivated. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rob Wieland

A Boeing KC-135R of the 168th Air Refueling Wing flies in formation with two Fairchild A-10 Warthog IIs of the 355th Fighter Squadron during the Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 exercises. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rob Wieland

A Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon from the U.S. Air Force's Aviano Air Base in Italy is seen here at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska while visiting for the Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 exercises. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder

A series of multinational training exercises being held in Alaska has given different aircraft based at the state's Eielson Air Force Base the chance to fly in formation for the last time.

Red Flag-Alaska 07-2, a series of field training exercises for US. forces and allies that is directed by the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, has brought together more than 1,400 military personnel from the United States, Singapore and Australia at Eielson AFB. Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 began on May 31 and runs until June 15.

The exercises, conducted on the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex with the air operations flown from Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases in Alaska, provide the last opportunity for aircraft from the Eielson-based 18^th Fighter Squadron (FS), 355^th FS and Alaska Air National Guard's 168^th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) to fly together.

That's because the 18^th FS and the 355^th FS are being deactivated. The 18^th FS operates Lockheed Martin F-16CG Fighting Falcon air superiority fighters and the 355^th FS operates Fairchild A/OA-10 Warthog II ground-attack aircraft. The 168^th ARW operates Boeing KC-135R tankers.

The Red Flag-Alaska exercises provide training in joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force operations, according to Air Force Print News.

In the exercises now underway, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Singaporean and Australian military units have been organized as an air expeditionary wing at Eielson AFB, while a subordinate air expeditionary group is based at Elmendorf AFB.

Tankers from Grand Forks AFB, N.D. and MacDill AFB, Fla. are augmenting the 168^th ARW in providing air refueling support for Red Flag-Alaska's combat aircraft participants. The Tanker Task Force is planning the overall execution of day-to-day missions for the exercises.

To help their nations decide whether to become future exercise participants, observers from Malaysia and Norway are present at Red Flag-Alaska 07-2 to see how U.S. and coalition forces work together, reported AFPN.

"The international observer program allows [officials from] foreign countries the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of PACAF's largest joint and combined air combat exercise," Red Flag-Alaska team chief Capt. Ron Strobach told the news service.

"If interested, observers can then incorporate their aircraft, personnel and air combat tactics into future exercises, thus promoting better training and closer relations."

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