250 leave HAFB for duty in Iraq

About 250 personnel with Hill Air Force Base's 388th Fighter Wing left Sunday for a deployment of at least 120 days in Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The group includes maintenance experts, pilots and operational support personnel, said Capt. Monica Bland of the Hill public affairs department.

The group's F-16 jets were to take off Tuesday night and link up with their airmen in Iraq.

Several squadrons are part of the latest deployment: the 34th Fighter Squadron; members of the 388th Equipment Maintenance, Component Maintenance, Operations Support and Maintenance Operation squadrons; and the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, which is assigned to the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

"The 388th FW (Fighter Wing) is deploying its F-16s to the region primarily to maintain security and stability by providing close air support for Army ground troops," Bland said in a press release.