Bringing Fuel to the Fight

Two F-15s from the 104th Fighter Wing, Westfield, Mass., and an F-16 from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, soar above northern New England after receiving fuel from the 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire Air National Guard, June 29. The refueling allowed the F-15s to continue "dog fight" training exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

F-15s to fly South in December

Published Dec. 18, 2013
By SrA. Charles Hutchinson IV
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Aircraft and Airmen from Barnes Air National Guard Base will return home to nearby Westfield soon after their temporary stay at Westover.

Around 80 Airmen and 12 F-15 Eagles with the 104th Fighter Wing came to Westover in mid-July while the Barnes runway was undergoing repairs. Now that construction is nearly complete, the contingent will head back to the guard base in early December.

Maj. Pete Carr, commander of the 104th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said that in early December, a portion of the jets and about 70 percent of the unit's equipment will relocate to Florida for a temporary deployment. The remaining aircraft will return to Barnes between Dec. 7 and 8.