Another squadron deploys to the 'war'

The 389th Fighter Squadron was deployed to the war on terrorism last week, making it the third squadron to be deployed for combat operations since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The 389th flies the single-engine single-seat F-16CJ Falcon fighter/bombers. The CJ versions of the Falcon are configued in the "wild weasel" suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) role.

Typically, when one of the fighting squadrons deploys, approximately 250-350 personnel are deployed with the aircraft.

The base public affairs office did not announce the deployment, but confirmed the departure of the aircraft last Tuesday. The actual number of aircraft in the 18-plane squadron that left, and the number of personnel deployed, were not released.

The planes join the 34th Bomb Squadron's B-1s and the 391st Fighter Squadron's F-15E Strike Eagle in the war.

Also currently deployed to the Mideast is the 22nd Air Refueling Squadron's KC-135R tankers. They are currently participating in the long-scheduled Bright Star military exercise with NATO and allied Mideast nation forces, but are not participating in the combat operations currently ongoing against Afghanistan.

That leaves only the 390th Fighter Squadron's F-15C air superiority fighters as the only flying squadron remaining on base, however, the other squadrons typically leave several aircraft behind for continuing training purposes.