Air National Guard Eagles become World Travellers
On 3 October 2023, six McDonnell Douglas F-15C legacy Eagles arrived at Kadena Air Base (Japan) to be deployed. Strikingly, this latest arrival of USAF fighters was formed out of a mix between (former) Louisiana and California Air National Guard F-15s.
This latest movement gives a glimpse of things to come. Recent sightings at Fresno International Airport (CA), reveiled that some ten former 122nd Fighter Squadron JZ coded Eagles are now stationed there.
Scramble Magazine assesses that these JZ Eagles will fill in their final flighthours before being disposed of. The F-15s based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans (LA) with the 122nd Fighter Squadron and Fresno International Airport (CA) with the 194th Fighter Squadron are slated to receive the new Boeing F-15EX in due time.
The following F-15Cs are now forward deployed to Kadena: 82-0010/JZ, 82-0017/JZ, 84-0014, 84-0022/JZ, 85-0098 and 86-0174/JZ. A second group of six legacy Eagles is expected to arrive at Kadena soon.
Becoming World Travellers
During this past June, JZ coded 82-0010, 82-0017 and 84-0022 were prominent guests during the 'Air Defender 23' exercise at Hohn Air Base (Germany). Also, returning to its former nest, 85-0098, now adorned with California ANG markings, was last noted with the ZZ code at Kadena during 2021.
Credit photo: BAT01@ministerofCONA / Credit patches: www.aviatorgear.com