News>4th FW Airmen to launch aircraft to honor WWII history
Photos
Airman 1st Class Timothy Schnitzer stows a refueling hose after refueling an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft April 13, 2012, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Airmen at the base are preparing for Mustang Mayhem on April 16 that will involve more than 70 F-15E Strike Eagles lining up on the runway to demonstrate the wing's capability to generate air power. The jets will then launch for an exercise modeled after a World War II battle 70 years ago. Schnitzer is assigned to the 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
Senior Airman Adam Johnson inspects hydraulic lines before installing them April 13, 2012, at at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing work together to prepare for Mustang Mayhem, a training mission to launch 70 F-15E Strike Eagles that will destroy more than 1,000 targets on bombing ranges across North Carolina to pay homage to their history in World War II. Johnson is an F-15E crew chief assigned to the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Rissmiller)
F-15E Strike Eagle pilots from the 4th Fighter Wing prepare for take off April 13, 2012,, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Airmen at the base have been preparing for Mustang Mayhem, a training mission to launch 70 F-15E Strike Eagles that will destroy more than 1,000 targets on bombing ranges across North Carolina to pay homage to their history in World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Rissmiller)
Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing attend a mission briefing for Mustang Mayhem April 13, 2012, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Mustang Mayhem will take place April 16 and will involve more than 70 F-15E Strike Eagles lining up on the runway to demonstrate the wing's capability to generate air power. The jets will then launch for an exercise modeled after a World War II battle 70 years ago. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
4/15/2012 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C (AFNS) -- Members of the 4th Fighter Wing will pay homage to World War II history here April 16 by launching 70 F-15E Strike Eagles in a training mission to destroy more than 1,000 targets on bombing ranges across North Carolina.
During World War II on April 16, 1945, the 4th Fighter Group destroyed 105 enemy aircraft as part of an 8th Air Force mission involving 1,252 bombers and 913 fighters. This mission catapulted the 4th Fighter Group to 1,016 enemy aircraft destroyed, more than any group or wing in U.S. Air Force history.
On the same day, nearly 70 years later, the 4th Fighter Wing will launch 70 aircraft to achieve this same objective, officials said. In 1945, it took thousands of aircraft to destroy 1,016 targets; the 4th Fighter Wing will achieve the same goal in 2012 with only 70 F-15Es. Col. Patrick Doherty, the 4th Fighter Wing commander, will lead the launch.
The 4th Fighter Wing is home to four fighter squadrons, three of which were part of the original Eagle squadrons, American volunteers who flew as part of the Royal Air Force in the early days of the war.
"We proudly carry on the legacy of the 4th Fighter Group's victory today with the F-15E Strike Eagle," Doherty said. "Even though today's fight is different, the dedication of our Airmen has not wavered, and we are still 'Fourth but First.'"
(Courtesy of the 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)
Comments
4/18/2012 9:55:30 PM ET Same number of sorties as would normally be flown in a day. Just done in a little over an hour vs 10-12hrs. No additional cost to the taxpayer.
R, NC
4/17/2012 11:58:35 AM ET More tax dollars being wasted.
