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55th Squadron redeploys from Middle East

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Champagne
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 55th Fighter Squadron recently returned from two exercises in the Middle East.
Initial Link involved simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and Eastern Falcon involved flying basic fighter maneuvers, air combat training and large force employment sorties.

The Initial Link and Eastern Falcon exercises allowed coalition members to benefit by engaging in crosstalk with the other members as well as improved interoperability with coalition partners in the Middle East, said Lt. Col. David Hathaway, 55th Fighter Squadron commander.

“We deployed with 6 F-16s on Feb.12 to Southwest Asia for Initial Link,” said Lt. Col. Hathaway.

“We then moved the aircraft and personnel March 3 to another location in Southwest Asia for exercise Eastern Falcon. The last personnel arrived home last week,” he said.
“We flew large force missions with F-18s, F-16s, F-15s and F-5s from other countries,” Col. Hathaway said. “Missions included defensive counter air, offensive counter air, air interdiction and suppression of enemy air defenses. Both day and night missions were conducted over the Arabian Gulf.”

Exercises as big as Initial Link and Eastern Falcon are combined with all the other training and exercise taskings that Air Combat Command levies annually, said Col. Hathaway.

Initial Link and Eastern Falcon were the first exercises of the year for the 55th FS.
Twelve Shaw F-16CJ aircraft and numerous personnel from the 55th FS, 55th Air Maintenance Unit, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron and U.S. Central Command Air Forces deployed. Additionally, Airmen from Tinker, Whiteman and Holloman Air Force bases deployed providing communications, services and security forces support.

“These Air Force engagement exercises promote coalition building in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” said Col. Bill Hyatt, 20th Fighter Wing commander.
The 20th FW usually does at least one of these types of events a year, the colonel said.

The Air Force has multiple Southwest Asia events of different proportions annually.

“Deployments like this keep us ready for our next opportunity to put our own iron in the desert,” he said. “Additionally, the focus of these two exercises allowed us to hone the critical combat skills unique to our primary mission here at Shaw SEAD and DEAD.”

“The future of total force is not just with our sister services but it is also with our coalition partners,” Col. Hyatt said. “Exercising together helps us become more familiar with each other’s assets so together we can fight and win the global war on terrorism.”