Lajes (Azores) (LPLA/TER) 2008

[J.J.]

After further checking raameagle´s list, I´m confused again: At least according to the serial number section on http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and the Scramble Databases, 90-0230 should be still assigned to the 335th FS at Seymour Johnson AFB... Could it be that they borrowed this jet to be able to deploy 18 aircraft?

[J.J.]

As announced above, here´s what you can expect in the next couple of days:

Returning units:
- ANG "Rainbow Team", consisting of 12 aircraft from 138th FS, 174th FW (New York ANG) and 175th FS, 114th FW (South Dakota ANG)
- 421st EFS from Hill AFB (12 aircraft)
- 77th EFS from Shaw AFB (a mix of 12 aircraft from 34th FS, 55th FS and 77th FS)

Known replacements for USAF´s AEF 5/6 (Cycle 7) rotation (September - December 2008) are:
- ANG "Rainbow Team", consisting of aircraft from 179th FS, 148th FW (Minnesota ANG), 125th FS, 138th FW (Oklahoma ANG), and 112th FS, 180th FW (Ohio ANG)
- 14th EFS from Misawa AB, Japan

Probably all CONUS units will transit via Moron, the 14th EFS as usual via Australia.

Hope that helps. Good hunting!

[raameagle]

JJ et all,

I was passed the serials of the MO Strikes by a friend who is currently deployed in the Middle East and therefore can only report what was passed to me. Evidently his reading of them is not 100% as there have now been two errors noticed. I am not able to confirm them myself as I have recently returned from my deployment.

Maybe one of the Lajes regulars can confirm the serials of all 18 aircraft?

Regards

Mark

[sentinel]

I promised to check my records and I can confirm that a total of 14 F-15Es deployed east from Lakenheath as Mazda 11-15, Mazda 21-25 and Mazda 31-34 on the 30th of April.

However the return journey on the 8th of September consisted of Mazda 61-66, Mazda 71-76 and Mazda 81-84. I am aware two of them were left behind and should be returning to Lakenheath on Wednesday as Mazda 85-86.

Does this get any closer to solving the puzzle?

I can also confirm from my archives that 14 Strike Eagles deployed to Bagram as per call-signs given by grtz. It seems that there are a couple of stragglers which have not yet made it to Lakenheath. I'll be able to confirm this early next week.

JJ,

The only proof I can give you regarding my theory of 14 aircraft deployed is that I read off the four Strikes at Kandahar myself and know they were weather diverts from Bagram.

Regards

Mark

I heard 14 while they were enroute to Afghanistan back in April: Mazda 11-15, Mazda 21-25 and Mazda 31-34. None of them seemed to be a Airspare.

Grtz

[J.J.]

I promised to check my records and I can confirm that a total of 14 F-15Es deployed east from Lakenheath as Mazda 11-15, Mazda 21-25 and Mazda 31-34 on the 30th of April.

However the return journey on the 8th of September consisted of Mazda 61-66, Mazda 71-76 and Mazda 81-84. I am aware two of them were left behind and should be returning to Lakenheath on Wednesday as Mazda 85-86.

Hmmm...

Mazda 11-15, Mazda 21-25 and Mazda 31-34 = 14
Mazda 61-66, Mazda 71-76 and Mazda 81-84 = 16

That means 16 LN Strike Eagles were deployed. But only if Mazda 85-86 were originally part of the pre-planned Mazda 61-66, Mazda 71-76 and Mazda 81-84 fighter package. If not, we would have 18 aircraft!

[falcon]

Saturday a flight of 12 Marines hornets landed on Lajes. they are from VFMA-115.
I think it where the same as transited Lajes begin this year on they way to the gulf.

The 12 A-10's from September 9th where all FT coded one's, sorry no serials......

more details/serials/etc etc will follow as they drop in..........

Grtz
George

[J.J.]

The photo proof taken at Lajes and mentioned by falcon in this topic also shows an eight MO Strike Eagle with special markings 391 FS. But according to the Scramble Databases and the serial numbers section on http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, F-15E marked 391 FS should be still 90-0233 and not 90-0237 as mentioned by raameagle´s source. I´m looking forward for first official USAF shots on 455th AEW´s public website... Remaining question: Are 16 or 18 Strike Eagles deployed?

[Dutchmil]

As announced above, here´s what you can expect in the next couple of days:

Known replacements for USAF´s AEF 5/6 (Cycle 7) rotation (September - December 2008) are:
- ANG "Rainbow Team", consisting of aircraft from 179th FS, 148th FW (Minnesota ANG), 125th FS,
138th FW (Oklahoma ANG), and 112th FS, 180th FW (Ohio ANG)

The F-16s arrived at Moron this evening. They should be departing to Balad this Thursday, September 18th.

Hope this helps,


RH.

[J.J.]

At Moody´s public website there are some additional pictures related to the 75th EFS departure on September 8, 2008. And if they were no airspares, the deployed fighter package should include: 78-0674, 79-0179 and 79-0192 - all three already upgraded to the A-10C version.

USAF photo proofs:
http://www.moody.af.mil/shared/media/ph ... 2B-088.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.moody.af.mil/shared/media/ph ... 2B-084.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.moody.af.mil/shared/media/ph ... 2B-142.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the pictures with captions check: http://www.moody.af.mil/photos/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In the next four months, I will track the entire 75th EFS OEF deployment with the 455th AEW at Bagram AB, Afghanistan. And from time to time I will post some serial number updates to this topic.

Hope that helps.

[Dutchmil]

Hi,

The final four VMFA-115 Hornets returned to MCAS Beaufort from Lajes this evening as Trend 41 flight. Supporting tanker was Blue 91H.

Regards,


RH.

[raameagle]

All,

I now have photo proof that the Strike Eagle marked '391FS' that deployed recently is confirmed as 90-0233.

Regards

Mark

[raameagle]

All,

I can also confirm that 90-0230 cannot have deployed recently as I saw it at Warner Robins on re-work yesterday (18th September).

Regards

Mark

[J.J.]

Confirmed as currently deployed with the 75th EFS is 80-0149/FT (former CT aircraft): http://www.bagram.afnews.af.mil/shared/ ... 8M-013.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are rumors that the fighter package of the replaced AFRC/ANG "Rainbow Team" will arrive at NAS JRB Willow Grove on Tuesday: "The A-10 pilots, 40 of them from the area, are due to land at Willow Grove on Tuesday afternoon", WPVI-TV reported today. Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... id=6404161" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Serials:
78-0655, 79-0093, 79-0119, 79-0123 (all KC)
78-0611, 78-0627, 78-0653, 80-0250 (all ID)
80-0230, 80-0273, 81-0981, 82-0659 (all PA)

Have they already stopped at Lajes (via Al Udeid)?

[Dutchmil]

Confirmed as currently deployed with the 75th EFS is 80-0149/FT (former CT aircraft): http://www.bagram.afnews.af.mil/shared/ ... 8M-013.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are rumors that the fighter package of the replaced AFRC/ANG "Rainbow Team" will arrive at NAS JRB Willow Grove on Tuesday: "The A-10 pilots, 40 of them from the area, are due to land at Willow Grove on Tuesday afternoon", WPVI-TV reported today. Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... id=6404161" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Serials:
78-0655, 79-0093, 79-0119, 79-0123 (all KC)
78-0611, 78-0627, 78-0653, 80-0250 (all ID)
80-0230, 80-0273, 81-0981, 82-0659 (all PA)

Have they already stopped at Lajes (via Al Udeid)?

No rumors, they arrived at Lajes this afternoon and should be departing to Willow Grove on Tuesday.

The 421st EFS F-16s arrived at Moron this evening, and they should be returning to Hill AFB on Tuesday also.

Hope this helps,



RH.

[J.J.]

That´s really helpful, Dutchmil! And related to that, please check my latest reply to the Balad topic on http://www.f-16.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;!