169th Fighter Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq [Image 16 of 20]

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

06.06.2010

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson  

169th Fighter Wing

Tech. Sgt. Nathan Barnes, a crew chief with the 169th Maintenance Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., 169th Fighter Wing, prepares an F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 30 to be launched from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, by Captain Jeremy “Weed” Sorenson, fighter pilot with the 370th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. on June 8, 2010. Members from various units deployed to JBB with the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., to cover an Air Expeditionary Force deployment utilizing Block 52 and Block 30 F-16’s. The 169th FW at McEntire 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 169th FW is now an "Active Associate" wing. This unique agreement with the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB Base embeds 150 active duty Airmen with the 169th FW at McEntire to forge an even stronger, more mobile force. Elements of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th FW began this historic deployment in early May 2010 when airmen landed at JBB in support of OIF.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2010
• Date Posted: 07.08.2010 07:40
• Photo ID: 297283
• VIRIN: 100606-F-9119C-049
• Resolution: 1800x1200
• Size: 1.47 MB
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ