I "Buzzards" alla Red Flag - 1996 - "Buzzards" deploy for Red Flag
Febbraio 1996: I “Buzzards” alla Red Flag
A distanza di un anno, tocca ai “Buzzards” attraversare l’Atlantico. Il “tour” negli States aveva in programma nuovamente dei cicli addestrativi alla Davis Monthan AFB per formare un secondo gruppo di piloti AFAC, sia del 510th FS che del 555th FS, utilizzando istruttori del 355th Wing e del 31st FW formati l’anno precedente, delle valutazioni air-to-ground WSEP ( Weapons System Evaluation Program ), missioni DACT ( Dissimilar Air Combat Training ) con gli F-15C del 33rd FW di Eglin AFB, ed infine la partecipazione alla Red Flag con base a Nellis AFB in Nevada. Il rischieramento del 510th FS terminò mercoledì pomeriggio 7 febbraio con l’atterraggio sulla pista 05 di casa. Nel periodo di assenza da Aviano, i compiti normalmente svolti dai Buzzards nell’ambito delle operazioni sulla Bosnia Erzegovina, furono presi in carico da un distaccamento misto di F-16C appartenenti a due reparti della Air Force Reserve : 457th FS / 301st FW ( codice TF, ex Carswell AFB ora NAS-JRB Fort Worth, Texas ) e 302nd FS / 944th FG ( codice LR, Luke AFB, Arizona ). Per entrambe non fu la prima volta, infatti tra dicembre 1993 e febbraio 1994 ( il 31st FW non era ancora stato ri-attivato ) furono coinvolte nelle fasi iniziali dell’operazione “Denny Flight” trasferendo personale e propri velivoli ad Aviano.
Ringraziamenti vanno al Comandante del 510th FS Lt. Col . Gary West e alla Sig.ra Luisa Merlo dell’Ufficio Pubbliche Relazioni del 31st FW.
Renzo Del Bianco
February , 1996: “Buzzards” deploys for Red Flag
After one year, it was time of the Buzzards to across the Atlantic. The “tour” in the States had scheduled some training activities at Davis Monthan AFB to form a second generation of AFAC ( Airborne Forward Air Controller ) 510th FS and 555th FS pilots, with instructors 355th Wing OA-10As pilots and previous year graduated 31st FW pilots, some valuation like the air-to-ground WSEP ( Weapons System Evaluation Program ) and DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training ) sorties against 33rd FW F-15Cs from Eglin AFB, and at last the Red Flag participation at the Nellis AFB, Nevada. The 510th FS deployment ended Wednesday afternoon February 7 with landing on the runway 05. Along the period of the 510th FS absence, aircraft from 457th FS / 301st FW ( code TF, ex Carswell AFB now NAS-JRB Fort Worth, Texas ) and 302nd FS / 944th FG ( code LR, Luke AFB, Arizona ) joined in a mixed AFRes F-16Cs detachment to carry out the sorties over the Bosnia Herzegovina instead of the “Buzzards” Fighting Falcons. Both units was not the first time at Aviano AB, as they were involved the initial period of the “Denny Flight” operation, when 31st FW had not been re-activated yet, deploying a/c and personnel from December 1993 to February 1994.
Word of thanks to the 510th FS Commander Lt. Col. Gary West and to Mrs. Luisa Merlo of the 31st FW Public Affairs Office.
Renzo Del Bianco
