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177th Deploys to Balad Air Base, Iraq
Photo and story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA
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An F-16C Fighting Falcon undergoes phase
inspection before the next day's mission sorties. |
More than 150 Airmen from the
177th Fighter Wing deployed to Iraq on Feb.
19. This contingent coupled with previous
deployments brings the total to 229 unit members
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom at
Balad Air Base in Iraq.
The deployments can
last anywhere from 45 to 120 days. The 177th
Fighter Wing combined forces with the 158th
Fighter Wing, Burlington, Vt., and the 122nd
Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Ind., to meet the
Aerospace Expeditionary Force requirements.
The three units provided F-16C aircraft,
pilots, maintenance and support
personnel while assigned to the 332nd Air
Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base. While
deployed, the 177th will augment existing U.S.
forces through the use of precision-guided
munitions, enhancing the close air support
mission of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
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Master Sgt. Kenneth J. Krebs works on an F-16
during the inspection. Phase inspections enable crew
chiefs and other maintainers to keep the aircraft flying
through timed maintenance programs.
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Crew Chief Tech. Sgt. Frank Spano checks the forward
avionics bay on an F-16 during the aircraft's phase
inspection.
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Left to right, Tech. Sgt. Richard Miller and Senior
Airman Robert M. Maddrey, II check a technical order
before beginning work at a test station.
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More than 150 members of the 177th Fighter Wing gathered at the headquarters for the deployment to Iraq on Feb 19.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.
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