25 Mar 2020

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.

21 Feb 2020

Commanders of ACC, AFRC visit Hill AFB to celebrate F-35 success

Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, and Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, Air Force Reserve Command commander and chief of the Air Force Reserve, paid a visit to the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing to help commemorate a key milestone in F-35A Lightning II operations here.

10 Oct 2019

388th Fighter Wing focuses on F-35A operational capabilities, mission readiness

As the Air Force continues to sharpen its competitive edge to become a more lethal and ready force, the first combat-coded F-35A Lightning II wing has been a key contributor to the force’s overall readiness. Over the summer, all three squadrons — nearly 70 F-35A aircraft — were operating away from home station. They conducted operations in nine different countries on three separate continents, supporting multiple combatant commanders. One squadron supported a European Theater Support Package, another squadron conducted off-station operations at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, while Hill’s runway was under construction, and one squadron is currently conducting the first F-35A combat deployment.

6 Aug 2019

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 quick use. In theory, it means that F-35As could be deployed directly from the factory into combat if a large-scale conflict ever drives that need

19 Oct 2017

Hill maintainers support F-35A first Asia appearance during Seoul ADEX 17

Twenty-seven Hill maintainers and accompanying support equipment loaded into a C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 13, bound for Northeast Asia’s largest air show to support the F-35A’s first time on Asian soil. Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, also known as Seoul ADEX 17, offers a venue to deepen U.S. relationships with the Republic of Korea and enhance regional security while also giving 388th and 419th Fighter Wing maintainers a sense of interoperability and cultural awareness by working in another country. “With this temporary duty, we gain an increased understanding of how other platforms and countries conduct maintenance and daily operations,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Phillips, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. “Boots on ground in a location other than home gives us breadth and increased understanding we’re able to pass onto peers, subordinates and leaders alike for application in future movements.”

11 Aug 2017

F-35As fly in weapons evaluation

Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings supported and flew their F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Combat Hammer, the first operational air-to-ground weapons evaluation for the Air Force’s newest fighter jets.

30 May 2017

Hill Airmen generate 3,000th F-35A sortie, adopt upgraded ALIS

Recently the 3,000th F-35A Lighting II aircraft sortie departed Hill Air Force Base generated by maintainers from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing.

13 Feb 2017

Youngest maintainer at Red Flag launches America’s youngest jet

The future belongs to the young. Nathan Kosters, the youngest F-35 crew chief in the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, was born in 1996. “The Macerana” was No. 1 on the charts (somehow), “Independence Day” topped the box office and the F-16 Fighting Falcon had already been flying for 22 years.

9 Feb 2017

F-35A, maintainers proving reliable at Red Flag

When it comes to the F-35A, much is made of the edge its fifth-generation technology gives pilots, but America’s newest fighter aircraft is also proving capable in the hands of maintainers.

8 Feb 2017

F-35A proving its worth at Red Flag combat exercise

After eight days “at war” the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be an invaluable asset during Red Flag 17-01, the Air Force’s premier air combat exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.