01/02/2011 – Capt. Ryan Madrid, a fighter pilot with the 157th Fighter Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., launches an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a mission from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on August 17, 2010. The 169th Fighter Wing 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 169 FW is now an “Active Associate” wing. This unique agreement with the 20 FW at Shaw AFB embeds 150 active duty airmen with the 169 FW at McEntire to forge an even stronger, more mobile force. Elements of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169 FW began this historic deployment in early May 2010 when airmen landed at JBB in support of OIF.
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Credit: 169th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
8/19/10
- The second photo shows an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 157th Fighter Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., sits ready to launch on the flight line at Joint Base Balad, Iraq during sunset on August 12, 2010.
- The third photo shows Tech. Sgt. Fred Knox (left), Senior Airman (SrA) Travis Catchings and Senior Airman Josh Steele (right), weapons loaders with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., transfer a missile from an F-16 Fighting Falcon to its cart on August 12, 2010 while deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
- The fourth photo shows Lt. Col. Boris Armstrong, a fighter pilot with the 157th Fighter Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., prepares to launch an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a mission from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on August 15, 2010.
- The fifth photo shows an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 157th Fighter Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., sits ready to launch on the flight line at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, during sunset on August 12, 2010.