Misawa gets new jets

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Capt. Alan Penrod, 522nd Fighter Squadron, taxis down the runway to park his F-16 in its new home at Misawa Oct. 4, 2007. Captain Penrod flew one of five jets being reassigned here from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. (US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eric Harris)(RELEASED)

Misawa gains more jets

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class David Vera, 35th Maintenance Squadron, finalizes the repainting of an F-16 tail wing here on Oct. 12, 2007. The F-16 was the first of five jets to be re-designated as Wild Weasels after being reassigned from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Laura R. McFarlane)(RELEASED)

Misawa adds more jets to its inventory

Published Oct. 12, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
35th Fighter Wing public affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- After welcoming home 13 deployed jets last week, Misawa welcomed five new jets to its inventory.

The new jets have been reassigned to Misawa as a result of Base Realignment and Closure actions at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

Under BRAC, the 27th Fighter Wing was deactivated. Their inventory of F-16 Block 50 jets were dispersed among other like units. The five jets Misawa received will be divided among the 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons.

The increased number of jets will not lead to an increased number of sorties.

"We won't fly anymore sorties than we do now - we can't with our current manning level," explained Lt. Col. Barry Cook, 35th Operations Support Squadron director of operations. "We just have a few more jets in the pool of available ones."

The five jets are currently undergoing new paint jobs and should be Misawa-ready in the next six to eight weeks.