300 HAFB personnel head to Iraq

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — About 300 personnel from Hill Air Force Base's fighter wings deployed late last week in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Airmen from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and reserve 419th Fighter Wing will make up the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Balad and most will be deployed to the region for at least four months. The last large group left for Iraq Sunday.

The pilots, maintainers and support personnel will employ the F-16 Fighting Falcon in close air support missions to protect coalition ground forces, according to a base news release.

Hill's fighter wings regularly deploy in support of OIF missions, the release states.

From August 2007 to October 2008, personnel deployed back to back, completing 400 consecutive days in Balad. Throughout the 15-month period, they flew more than 5,000 combat missions and 20,000 hours. During 24-hour-a-day operations, they responded to more than 3,000 requests for air support and provided precision-guided, air-to-ground support in more than 200 engagements.

"We are one of the busiest F-16 units in the Air Force and we continue to play a crucial role in deterring attacks on coalition ground troops," according to 388th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Scott Dennis.

About 30 Air Force reservists from the 419th volunteered to deploy alongside their active duty counterparts and will continue to do so during future 388th rotations in support of the war on terrorism.

"We look forward to continued participation in this important, ongoing mission to stabilize Iraq," said 419th Commander Col. Walter "Buck" Sams, in the news release.