OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – The fighter jets that once flew the skies of Cape Cod have returned today, but only temporarily while major runway repairs are being conducted at Barnes Air National Guard Base, home the 104th Fighter Wing.
The 104th Fighter Wing will maintain its alert posture within the existing alert-infrastructure on Cape Cod while the training missions will fly out of Westover Air Reserve Base. The local community can expect to hear the aircraft as they make their descent on the base and conduct occasional flying operations.
“We’re happy to help out the 104th Fighter Wing,” said Col. Patrick Cobb, 102d Intelligence Wing commander. “An alternate location was needed to perform their flying mission and we certainly have some experience flying jets.”
Otis Air National Guard Base will host a small group from the 104th Fighter Wing throughout the summer and into the fall. The anticipated runway repair time is 4-6 months. The jets are expected to return to Barnes at the end of this calendar year.
The 104th Fighter Wing is equipped with the F-15 Eagle. One mission of the 104th is Aerospace Control Alert (ACA), providing armed fighters ready to scramble in a moment’s notice to protect the Northeast from any airborne threat.
The unit is responsible for protecting a quarter of the nation’s population and one-third of the gross domestic product.