Tigers, Raptors rendezvous at Arctic Circle

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. David Liapis
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  More than 200 Bold Tiger Airmen arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 20 and 21 to participate in an exercise with some of the Air Force's most advanced operational fighter squadrons.

The 209 members of the 391st Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit will spend approximately three weeks in Alaska, flying with F-22 Raptors from the 90th FS and the 525th FS. The Idaho-based unit will play the aggressor and also work on the integration of the two different generations of aircraft.

"We will not just be supporting the Raptors, but rather the Tigers will be working toward the effective integration of the F-15E with a fifth-generation fighter," said Lt. Col. Brian McCarthy, 391st FS commander.

In addition to the integration mission, the 391st will be flying "red air" (flying as aggressors) against the F-22s just as the 389th FS has done for the Raptors from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., for the past few weeks at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

According to Capt. Raymond Rounds, a pilot from the 391st, the Tigers will have the "once in a lifetime" opportunity to engage in some air-to-air strafing while flying near the Arctic Circle. The Tigers will also get to fly "blue air" (flying as partners) with the F-22s against F-16C "aggressors" from the 354th Fighter Wing stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska.

While the pilots fly over the northern tundra, many maintenance Airmen will be on the ground supporting the jets.

"Ops doesn't go anywhere without maintenance," said Chief Master Sgt. Todd Connolly, 391st AMU noncommissioned officer in-charge. The chief believes the 391st FS and AMU have an excellent relationship.

Captain Rounds agreed with Chief Connolly, citing that the 391st AMU's "top notch" efforts have enabled the Tigers to fly 69 sorties a week with "zero lines lost."

"Only through the excellent, professional work of the AMU working weekends and nights are we able to get the training we need," the captain said. "Their efforts enable us to support the Raptors and their training to be prepared to counter any future threats."