Last Sunday, six Block 40 F-16CM’s from Aviano Air Base‘s 31st Fighter Wing deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
After a brief Local Area Orientation, the Vipers pushed south and struck ISIS targets. This marks a rapid change of direction in Turkey’s policy of not allowing US assets to mount airstrikes through sorties originating in their country. The about-face is attributable to the death of a Turkish soldier at the hands of ISIS during a cross-border skirmish in northern Syria.
There are plans to station as many as 30 warplanes at Incirlik, in addition to the approximately 300 airmen now on site. Regardless of numbers, our thoughts and prayers are with those deployed and taking the fight to ISIS. We hope they return safely and Return With Honor.
A Block 40 F-16CM, flagship of the 31st Operations Group and a triple MiG-killer, takes to the sky with an inert LGB during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, NV.
(Featured photo by Scott Wolff)