ABOVE: SSgt Frank Anderson, F-35A crew chief,
greets pilot Capt Tyler McBride. USAF/ Michael McCool48
F-35 LIGHTNING II F-35A into service
the US Air Force Lightning II. It was the
start of a 12-aircraft, six-month deployment
to the Pacific, a region that is never far
from the headlines in recent times.
Deploying as part of a new Pacific Air
Forces (PACAF) Theater Security Program
(TSP), Hill AFB’s Lightnings carried the
‘HL’ tailcode of the Utah installation and
were led by the 34th FS ‘Rams’. However,
the 12 aircraft were jointly operated by
the active-duty 388th FW and the Air
Force Reserve Command’s 419th FW.
The USAF said the deployment was
designed to “demonstrate the continuing
US commitment to stability and security
in the region” – with 300 airmen heading
west from Hill AFB, it was a major effort.
The initial two aircraft arrived ahead of the
main party having participated in the Seoul
Aerospace and Defense Exhibition. The
balance of ten jets was in place at Kadena by
November 2, poised to begin flight operations
alongside the assets of the resident 18th Wing,
including two active-duty F-15C squadrons.
“The F-35A gives the joint warfighterunprecedented global precision attack
capability against current and emerging threats
while complementing our air superiority fleet,”
commented Gen Terrence J O’Shaughnessy,
Pacific Air Forces commander. “The airframe
is ideally suited to meet our command’s
obligations, and we look forward to integrating
it into our training and operations.”
The six-month Kadena deployment came
on the back of a period spent in the UK at
RAF Lakenheath in April. Six jets arrived
at the Suffolk base with little warning, but
to huge fanfare on April 15, followed by
a further pair four days later. This move
east was supported by a C-5 and C-17s to
bring in roughly 200 airmen and their
kit from Hill. The ‘Rams’ detachment
set up shop alongside the resident 493rd
FS ‘Grim Reapers’ F-15C/D unit – flying
local missions alongside their hosts.
When the Hill jets touched down in the
UK it marked the start of the USAF’s first
overseas training deployment to Europe
with the F-35A. Luke AFB F-35s from the
56th FW attended the Royal International
Air Tattoo in 2016, but they came only
for airshow purposes. The Lakenheath
visit was undoubtedly the precursor to the
larger and longer deployment to Japan inwhat turned out to be an incredibly busy
year for the Hill personnel. The USAF is
truly putting its latest fighters to work.
The Lakenheath deployment was all about
proving capability through the chance
to come as a complete squadron and
fly operationally representative training
missions. Plus, the choice of the UK
base was no coincidence – the resident
48th FW is planned as the first overseas
basing location for USAF Lightning IIs.
Once bedded down at Lakenheath, the
F-35s embarked on a range of training
operations under the European Reassurance
Initiative, a series of exercises and training
opportunities with NATO allies meant
to signal strength to Russia and improve
interoperability. Pairs of F-35s also
forward deployed to Estonia and Bulgaria
to “maximise training opportunities, build
partnerships with allied air forces, and become
familiar with Europe’s diverse operating
conditions”, according to a statement.
Two F-35As accompanied by about
20 supporting airmen flew to Ämari air
base, Estonia, for the day on April 25 for
“familiarisation training”. A statement
said: “the deployment has been planned
for some time, has no relations to current
events and was conducted in close
co-ordination with Estonian allies.”
A second ‘out and back’ flight was
conducted to Graf Ignatievo air base,
Bulgaria, on April 28, again involving a pair
of jets supported by a KC-135R forward-
deployed from the 459th Air Refueling Wing
at Andrews AFB, Maryland. Lt Gen Richard
Clark, 3rd Air Force commander, said
during a press event after the arrival: “We
routinely train through joint and combined
initiatives like Operation Atlantic Resolve
and in flying exercises like Thracian Eagle,
Thracian Summer and Thracian Star. Our
commitment to Bulgaria is but an example
of our unwavering support to all allied
nations. We are grateful to our Bulgarian
friends for their support in making today
possible. Your co-operation helps prepare
the F-35 for its invaluable contribution to
our alliance. We look forward to many
more years of our shared commitment
a nd pa r t ner sh ip.’ABOVE: F-15C ‘Wardog 1’ breaks into the circuit at Lakenheath as the ‘Hill-Lakenheath’ team
returns to base. Jamie Hunter