169th Fighter Wing conducts operations at Joint Base Balad [Image 6 of 8]

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

07.15.2010

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson  

169th Fighter Wing

Tech. Sgt. Travis Baity, a crew chief with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., launches a Block 30 F-16 Fighting Falcon for a mission from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, July 15, 2010, flown by Lt. Col. Kenneth Rosson, a fighter pilot with the 162nd Fighter Wing, Arizona Air National Guard. Members from various units with their expertise in the Block 30 F-16, deployed to JBB with the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire to cover an Air Expeditionary Force deployment utilizing Block 52 and Block 30 jets. The 169th FW at McEntire sent F-16's, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel overseas for its first major combat operation since 2003, when the unit deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and flew more than 400 combat missions. The 169th FW is now an "Active Associate" wing. This unique agreement with the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB Base embeds 150 active duty airmen with the 169th FW at McEntire to forge an even stronger, more mobile force. Elements of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th FW began this historic deployment in early May 2010 when airmen landed at JBB in support of OIF.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2010
• Date Posted: 07.21.2010 08:15
• Photo ID: 301438
• VIRIN: 100715-F-9119C-028
• Resolution: 1800x1200
• Size: 1.86 MB
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ