Mad Hatters strike at Red Flag

Photo By Master Sgt. Matthew Plew | Maintainers from the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conduct a post-flight check of an F-15E Strike Eagle in preparation for exercise Red Flag 16-4 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug 13. Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise and one of a series of advanced training programs that is administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)  

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES

08.15.2016

Story by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew 

48th Fighter Wing

The exercise is held annually at Nellis, with the goal to prepare warfighters for air combat in a realistic training environment from planning to execution.

"This is a great training opportunity for us," said Lt. Col. Matthew Hund, 492nd Fighter Squadron commander. “Exercises like Red Flag give us the ability to train to the high-end fight in a peacetime environment, and teach us to survive and win together.”

Over the next two weeks, the Mad Hatters will test their skills against realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.

“As the core Fighter Squadron for this exercise, it’s important that the 492nd set the tone and start this iteration of Red Flag off on the right foot,” said Hund.

Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise and one of a series of advanced training programs that is administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2016
• Date Posted: 08.17.2016 05:18
• Story ID: 207272
• Location: LAS VEGAS, NV, US