Last Two F-16s to Depart New Mexico’s 150th Fighter Wing

September 23, 2010--Associated Press

SANTA FE — The last two F-16 Fighting Falcons are scheduled to leave the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Fighter Wing on Kirtland Air Force Base for their final flights at 10 a.m. Sunday.

As part of the FY 2010 Combat Air Force Restructure, the 21 aircraft assigned to the 150th FW have been reallocated to other Air National Guard units in the District of Columbia and Vermont.

The F-16s were first introduced into the New Mexico Air National Guard in 1992 and have supported several deployments.

• During Operation Provide Promise/Deny Flight, 150th FW pilots and aircraft deployed to Aviano, Italy to enforce the NATO no-fly zone over Bosnia. Personnel and aircraft re-deployed to Aviano in 1997 to once again enforce the NATO no-fly zone over Bosnia.

• Between April 1998 and February 2001, 150th FW personnel and F-16s deployed several times in support of Operation Southern Watch and Northern Watch in Kuwait and Turkey.

• After the attacks on 9/11, the 150th FW supported several deployments connected with Operation Noble Eagle. On Sept. 11, 2001, the 150 FW was one of the first units to scramble aircraft after the World Trade Center attacks. In October 2001, the unit deployed to Atlantic City, NJ, to assume 24-hour patrols in the skies over New York City. They deployed to Iraq in August 2004 and again in October 2007.

With the loss of the fighter mission, the 150th FW is currently working on three possible missions with the Department of the Air Force and National Guard Bureau.