taxing

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jose Rosales, a dedicated crew chief with the 13th Fighter Squadron, taxies an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. The 13th FS flew 36 sorties a day during a three-day surge. Airmen work around the clock to increase mission capabilities to provide worldwide deployable forces while defending Japan with U.S. forward presence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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sunset

Multiple F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 13th Fighter Squadron line the runway at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. The 13th FS generated 36 sorties a day during a three-day surge while the 14th FS participates in COPE NORTH 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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pulling a fuel pump

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lacey Crowley, a fuels distribution supervisor with the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron, carries a fuel hose at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. Crowley fueled F-16 Fighting Falcons throughout the week while the 13th Fighter Squadron took part in a three-day surge. During the event, Airmen generated 36 sorties a day for mock mission deployment, continuing the high operations tempo despite the 14th Fighter Squadron being deployed to COPE NORTH 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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loading munitions

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Zion Monica, right, a weapons load crew chief with the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and Senior Airman Anthony Molero, left, a weapons load crew member with the 14th AMU, guides an AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. Airmen work 12-hour shifts to ensure mission capabilities are met during a three-day surge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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loading

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Zion Monica, left, a weapons load crew chief with the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and Senior Airman Anthony Molero, right, a weapons load crewmember with the 14th AMU, guides an AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. The 13th Fighter Squadron flew 36 sorties a day during a three-day surge. Airmen work around the clock to increase mission capabilities supporting contingencies anytime and anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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checking maintanence

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jose Rosales, a dedicated crew chief with the 13th Fighter Squadron, inspects the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2017. Rosales and other maintenance Airmen work 12-hour shifts while the 14th FS participates in COPE NORTH 17. Misawa Airmen upped the ante during a three-day surge last week, enhancing mission capabilities in case of a real-world scenario. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

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Misawa fighter pilots, maintenance Airmen double operations during surge

Published Feb. 21, 2017
By Staff Reports
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 13th Fighter Squadron and its maintenance team increased operations during a three-day surge, generating 36 sorties each day, here, Feb. 13-16.

“We increase our operations tempo – doubling it – going from flying two flying periods to four flying periods,” said Lt. Col. David Wray, the 13th Fighter Squadron director of operations. “We’re having maintenance practice real-world tactics of loading and unloading munitions, while we continue our normal operations training.”

Throughout the surge Airmen have been working 12-hour shifts to increase mission capabilities to provide worldwide deployable forces while defending Japan with U.S. forward presence.

taxing

sunset

pulling a fuel pump

loading munitions

loading

checking maintanence