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    Air Force members 'exchange ideas' during French visit

    Air Force members 'exchange ideas' during French visit

    Photo By Senior Airman Nigel Sandridge | Capt. Mike El Mann, 492nd Fighter Squadron flight commander, closes the F-15...... read more read more

    RAF LAKENHEATH, ABE, UNITED KINGDOM

    10.04.2013

    Story by Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge 

    Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

    ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - The 48th Fighter Wing and members of the French air force exchanged ideas and views on military equipment during visits to Royal Air Forces Lakenheath and Mildenhall Oct. 2 through 4.

    Organized by Lt. Gen. Craig A. Franklin, 3rd Air Force commander, the event was orchestrated to further strengthen the camaraderie between U.S. and French forces.

    "It was a great exchange," said Maj. Lee Stanford, 48th Operations Support Squadron wing weapons. "We haven't really gotten the chance to fly with them or practice together, but this is a great step toward progress."

    French air force members toured both RAF bases for three days, building partnerships through briefings, meetings and hands-on demonstrations in a F-15E Strike Eagle simulator.

    "We learned how powerful the F-15[E] really is," said French air force Maj. De France Christophe, staff officer in the Strategic Air Command. "We spoke with pilots and weapons systems officers that explained to us how they work with their aircraft, and we explained how we work with ours."

    Along with learning about the F-15E, French air force members educated U.S. Airmen on the Dassault Rafale, a twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft commonly used in France.

    "In the future, now it will be possible to form missions together," Stanford said. "Exchanging ideas and capacities, along with just being able to sit down with them and build a rapport, was a great experience."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.04.2013
    Date Posted: 10.15.2013 10:08
    Story ID: 115156
    Location: RAF LAKENHEATH, ABE, GB

    Web Views: 118
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN