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  • Course developed at Hill AFB speeds training for new F-35 crew chiefs

    Crew chiefs newly-assigned to the F-35 have direct access to professional development thanks to a course recently created at Hill Air Force Base, which may be implemented throughout the Air Force. The first class of Airmen graduated Friday from the F-35 Crew Chief Upgrade Training course, which was

  • Hill squadron conducts weapons evaluation

    A variety of military aircraft will visit northern Utah as Hill’s 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron conducts an in-depth weapons evaluation known as Combat Hammer at Hill Air Force Base and the Utah Test and Training Range. The evaluation is part of the Air Force's Weapons System Evaluation Program, or

  • 388th Fighter Wing develops leaders with every sortie

    The 388th Fighter Wing launches between 50-100 combat training sorties nearly every day from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The training program is crucial not only to prepare for deployments, but also to develop leaders who will push the Air Force's F-35 capabilities further in the future.

  • Hill Airmen take F-35 to Alaska for three weeks of training

    Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings are heading north with the F-35A for three weeks of training alongside a variety of other Air Force units at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Different from the Red Flags the wing has completed at Nellis AFB, Nevada, which focused

  • For third time, Hill AFB fighter wings deploy F-35As to Middle East

    For the third time in approximately 12 months, Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings deployed F-35A Lighting IIs into combat. The 421st Fighter Squadron departed Hill AFB recently for Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, to support the United States Air Force Central Command mission in

  • Hill AFB F-35 fighter wing members arrive at ADAB

    The 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, May 30, 2020. Their mission is to support and deploy the F-35 Lightning II and to continue the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's capabilities of delivering combat airpower, defending the region,

  • Airmen pitch improvement ideas, get funding in 388th FW “Shark Tank”

    Three new improvements will soon be making lives a little easier and impacting the mission here thanks to the Airmen’s research and squadron innovation funds. After a wing-wide competition was announced, three ideas – an F-35A canopy template, and automated industrial crib and an MRE-style nutrition

  • First group of Airmen from Hill’s 34th Fighter Squadron return home

    Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings returned home following a six-month deployment to the Middle East. The 34th Fighter Squadron’s deployment, which started in November, 2019, was first F-35 Immediate Response Force deployment as well as the second F-35A Lightning II

  • 388th FW maintainers using 3D printer to supply masks

    Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, protective face masks have been in demand world-wide. Instead of first procuring them from a dwindling supply, needed for healthcare workers and first-responders, Airmen in the 388th Fighter Wing are doing their best to contribute.

  • Commissary takes extra strides to continue service for military community

    The Commissary, like many grocery stores around the country, have the challenge of keeping shelves stocked, managing crowds of worried shoppers and sanitizing stores. With the recent concerns involving COVID-19, the store has seen a dramatic increase in customers stocking up on supplies.

  • Hill AFB and the emergence of the jet age

    During the early years of the 1950s, the Ogden Air Materiel Area continued its involvement with propeller-driven aircraft – primarily the B-26 and B-29. This soon changed. By the end of 1953 Hill AFB became accustomed to the whine of jet engines.

  • Hill fighter wings continue flying operations amid COVID-19 crisis

    The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing are continuing to train and fly the F-35A Lightning II despite the current global Coronavirus outbreak in segmented operations that allows separation between groups of Airmen who may be needed to deploy at any time.

  • Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing hosts Utah Make-A-Wish families

    Four children and their families from Make-A-Wish Utah visited the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base and earned their wings during a "Pilot for a Day" program here Oct. 18. Make-A-Wish grants the life-changing wishes of children battling a critical illness.

  • PHOTOS: Hill F-35A sunset launch

    The active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings from Hill Air Force Base conducted local night flying operations this week. The wings are required to train at night to maintain their readiness and all-weather capabilities. Increased flying also provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate the

  • Record-setting first sortie for wing's newest F-35A

    The 388th Fighter Wing set a speed record for bringing online a newly-delivered aircraft last week, flying a local sortie less than five hours after accepting delivery of its 68th F-35A Lightning II. F-35A program’s production and delivery plan was designed to allow rapid aircraft induction and

  • Rapid Forge begins at Spangdahlem Air Base

    U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle's, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah take off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, July 16, 2019, during

  • Hill F-35As arrive at Spangdahlem

    The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, Airmen, and associated equipment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah, to participate in exercises and conduct training with other Europe-based aircraft as part

  • Hill fighter wings conduct combat exercise

    The active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings conducted an integrated combat capability exercise April 30-May 2.The friendly and enemy forces were made up of F-35s from Hill, F-16s from the 311th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, New Mexico and 80th FS at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, and a team

  • Hill F-35A units assist in F-16 fighter training

    Brand new F-16 pilots received a unique training experience here with the help of the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings and the F-35A Lightning II.For the last two weeks, F-16 basic course students and instructor pilots from the 311th Fighter Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, New

  • Combat exercise, weapons evaluations mean busy May at Hill

    Communities surrounding Hill Air Force Base will notice increased flying and numbers of aircraft through much of May as the base’s fighter wings conduct a large combat exercise and host a weapons evaluation.The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing, along with F-16 units from

  • F-35A crew swap provides flexibility for training, combat

    Maintainers and pilots in the 388th Fighter Wing recently completed the first operational rapid crew swap exercise with the F-35A Lightning II.Other aircraft like bombers, tankers, helicopters, and twin engine fighters have been doing ‘hot crew swaps’ for some time. Until now, it hasn’t been safe to

  • 729th Air Control Squadron exercises to bolster readiness

    From Jan. 22-Feb. 7 the 729th Air Control Squadron at Hill Air Force Base engaged in a comprehensive, two-phase readiness exercise. Throughout the military, ‘readiness’ is a common term and one that encompasses the minimum standards required by all deployable units in order to qualify as mission

  • F-35A maintainers, special ops team for forward refueling

    America’s most advanced aircraft integrated with a variant of one of its oldest and truest airframes this week to provide more combat flexibility to the Air Force.For the first time, Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, and Airmen from the 26th Special Tactics Squadron and the 27th

  • Mastering the ins and outs of NDI

    A team of instructors traveled from the Ogden Air Logistics at Hill Air Force Base to conduct weapon system training with Airmen assigned to the 1st Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection unit Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Feb. 11-15, 2019.

  • Hill Airmen, F-35 a lethal combo at Red Flag

    Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron wrapped up flying operations with the F-35A Lightning II in an “exponentially more challenging” Red Flag. The 4th FS integrated the F-35A into a large, capable “Blue Force” in diverse missions against an equally capable “Red Force.” Nearly

  • Red Flag strengthens F-35A maintainers

    After more than two weeks launching F-35A sorties at Red Flag 19-1, maintainers with the 388th Fighter Wing are impressed with the jet and the young airmen who help maintain it. The 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft maintenance unit brought 12 jets and more than 200 Airmen from Hill Air Force

  • 'Trial by Flag' for new F-35A pilots

    The desert screams by below. The clouds scream by above. Both stretch on into the horizon. It’s deceptively calm in the cockpit. There’s a constant, seemingly discordant stream of chatter coming through his helmet. The digital screens in front of him, along with images projected onto his visor,

  • Helping F-35A pilots operate, survive at Red Flag

    The F-35 is lethal and survivable in almost any environment, but it’s just a machine, unable to do anything without a skilled pilot. Those pilots need gear to interface with the jet, operate and survive. Outfitting the pilots is the job of the Airmen in the 388th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew

  • 'Lethal' F-35A heading to Red Flag 19-1

    Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing are bringing the F-35A and ‘increased lethality’ as they take a lead role in Red Flag 19-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, From Jan. 26 - Feb. 15, approximately 200 Airmen from Hill AFB, including reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing, will

  • 388th Ammo troops building bombs, cohesion

    Airmen in the 388th Maintenance Squadron’s Munitions Flight are honing their skills together in preparation for a world-wide Air Force competition. For the second year, Beale Air Force Base, California, will host the Air Force Combat Operations Competition where teams from each major command will

  • 421st Fighter Squadron and AMU receive first F-35A

    The 421st Fighter Squadron here received its first F-35A Lightning II Dec. 12. The squadron is the last of three squadrons in Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing to take possession of combat-ready aircraft, bringing the 388th Fighter Wing closer to full strength. The arrival of the first jets in the 421st

  • PEO Digital finds north for lost Airmen

    Home units use software like the Personnel Recovery Mission Management system, or PRMM, to track deployed personnel. It defaults to “true north” when in use, but the deployed personnel often use a compass, which points to magnetic north. Magnetic north is subject to variations based on time,

  • COMBAT POWER: Our best photos

    Hill Air Force Base's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings conducted a combat power exercise Nov. 19 and launched 35 F-35A Lightning IIs within a condensed period of time. Here are the best photos of the day.

  • F-35A combat power exercise conducted at Hill AFB

    The active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Air Force Reserve 419th Fighter Wing conducted a combat power exercise Nov. 19, launching dozens of F-35A Lightning IIs within a condensed period of time.

  • 388th FW drops GBU-49 in combat training

    The 388th Fighter Wing’s 34th Fighter Squadron recently returned from a weapons evaluation exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where they employed the GBU-49 for the first time in F-35A combat training. The GBU-49 is a laser and GPS guided bomb that can be used in a variety of conditions

  • F-35 maintainers at Hill shaping future with BOLT

    After several months, an innovative program in the 388th Fighter Wing is proving it has the potential to deliver combat power more efficiently and may shape how the Air Force determines future requirements to sustain F-35A Lightning II operations. The Blended Operational Lightning Technician program

  • 388th Fighter Wing completes combat exercise

    The 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit recently completed a combat exercise where they tested and evaluated their capabilities to operate the F-35A Lightning II in a deployed environment.The units focused on combat operations and tactical scenarios – aircraft

  • New tech to ease F-35A flight line maintenance

    Maintainers on Hill’s flight line are beginning to utilize new high-tech, hand-held tablets to work on the F-35A, America’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft. The handheld tablets will augment laptops, called Portable Maintenance Aids, currently used by Airmen to connect to the F-35A’s

  • 388th FW dialing-in cannon loading, firing in training

    The 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 4th Fighter Squadron were the first operational units to load and fire the F-35A’s cannon during training Aug. 13, and what they learned will influence how they train and fight.Loading and firing the cannon was one of the few capabilities

  • PHOTOS: 388th, 419th FWs load F-35A cannon

    Maintenance Airmen from the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, accomplish the first-time operational loading of 25 mm target rounds in an F-35A Lightning II, Aug. 10, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The F-35A is the only F-35 variant with an internal cannon. It is capable of firing 50 rounds per

  • 388th Fighter Wing standing up final F-35A aircraft maintenance unit

    Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing recently began standing up the last of its aircraft maintenance units, a big step toward receiving the full complement of F-35A Lightning IIs by the end of 2019. The 421st AMU, which will support the 421st Fighter Squadron, is preparing to receive its first aircraft in

  • Hill Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

    Two years after the Air Force declared IOC for the F-35A, pilots and maintainers at Hill’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”Since the IOC announcement on Aug. 2, 2016, Airmen and the jet have grown

  • 388th Maintenance Group eying future time, cost savings with 3-D printing

    The 388th Maintenance Group’s Air Force Repair and Enhancement Program shop recently acquired a 3-D printer with the hope of increasing availability and driving down costs for certain F-35 replacement parts. 3-D printing, also called additive manufacturing, uses a computer-controlled machine to form

  • Airmen, jets return from Japan deployment

    Airmen and F-35A aircraft from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing returned here May 4-5 following a six-month deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The deployment was part of a routine “theater security package” that demonstrates continuing U.S. commitment to stability

  • Final operational F-16s depart Hill

    The last six operational F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft lifted off from the runway here Sept. 21 at approximately 11 a.m. on their way to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, where they will continue flying.Several military and civilian Airmen watched as pilots stepped to the jets and taxied away for takeoff.

  • 75th FS launches for Combat Hammer

    The 75th FS departed for Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground exercise hosted at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The exercise is designed to collect and analyze data on the performance of precision weapons and measure their suitability for use in combat.

  • F-35As arrive in Bulgaria

    Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft and approximately 20 supporting Airmen arrived at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, today, from RAF Lakenheath, England. The F-35As are participating in the first-ever training deployment to Europe. The aircraft and total force Airmen are from the 34th Fighter

  • F-35As deploy to Estonia for the first time

    Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft and approximately 20 supporting Airmen arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, today, from RAF Lakenheath, England. The F-35As are participating in their first-ever training deployment to Europe. The aircraft and total force Airmen and are from the 34th Fighter Squadron,

  • F-35A deployment brings advanced airpower capability to Europe

    This weekend’s deployment of an initial six F-35A Lightning II fighters and several hundred Airmen to Europe demonstrates the aircraft’s readiness to conduct operations with America’s European partners, according to Air Force leaders.The April 15 arrival at Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath, U.K.,

  • AF commanders aim to ensure smooth take-off for F-35A

    Wing commanders from U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II units met at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, July 20-21 to discuss integration of the two aircraft. The conference focused on joint training, maintenance techniques, manpower and strategies to develop successful integration the

  • F-35A nearly combat ready

    The first deployment exercise for the F-35A Lightning II confirmed that the Air Force’s newest fighter jet is on track to reach initial operational capability later this year. A declaration of IOC means the F-35A will be combat ready.

  • X-ray vision?!!

    Well, X-ray vision not quite in the way most would imagine, but a form of X-ray vision nonetheless.Usually the stuff of sci-fi movies, fictional superheroes, or comic books ads, the digital upgrade to a base Nondestructive Inspection (NDI) laboratory's X-ray system has greatly improved the workflow