Fueling the Fight: Bilateral Hot Pit Operations at Misawa Air Base during REFORPAC 2025

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Andre Medina
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, responds with a “Samurai Wood” hand sign to a 14th Fighter Generation Squadron Airman during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, responds with a “Samurai Wood” hand sign to a 14th Fighter Generation Squadron Airman during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The exercise validates Pacific Air Forces’ capacity to lead large-scale, multinational contingency operations with more than 12,000 personnel and 400 aircraft being mobilized. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)
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U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, responds with a “Samurai Wood” hand sign to a 14th Fighter Generation Squadron Airman during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

250723-F-NU460-1067

U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, responds with a “Samurai Wood” hand sign to a 14th Fighter Generation Squadron Airman during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The exercise validates Pacific Air Forces’ capacity to lead large-scale, multinational contingency operations with more than 12,000 personnel and 400 aircraft being mobilized. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Evans, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, holds a dead man’s switch during a hot pit refueling of an F-16C Fighting Falcon as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Evans, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, holds a dead man’s switch during a hot pit refueling of an F-16C Fighting Falcon as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The REFORPAC exercise spans more than 50 locations across the Pacific, sharpening the U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly deploy, sustain operations and project airpower in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force airmen assigned to the 3rd Air Wing observe a hot pit refueling of an 14th Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force airmen assigned to the 3rd Air Wing observe a hot pit refueling of an 14th Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The exercise enhances interoperability, strengthens partnerships, and demonstrates our collective commitment to maintaining regional stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Evans, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals a 14th Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon into a hardened aircraft shelter for a hot pit refueling as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Evans, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals a 14th Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon into a hardened aircraft shelter for a hot pit refueling as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The REFORPAC exercise is part of the Department of the Air Force’s first-in-a-generation Department-Level-Exercise series designed to enhance readiness, strengthen multilateral interoperability and ensure mission success in contested and dynamic environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kevin Wood, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, unhooks a fuel line from a 14th Fighter SquadronF-16C Fighting Falcon during a hot pit refueling as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kevin Wood, 14th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, unhooks a fuel line from a 14th Fighter SquadronF-16C Fighting Falcon during a hot pit refueling as part of exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The REFORPAC exercise is part of the Department of the Air Force’s first-in-a-generation Department-Level-Exercise series designed to enhance readiness, strengthen multilateral interoperability and ensure mission success in contested and dynamic environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, poses for a photo during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Murray, 14th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, poses for a photo during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The REFORPAC exercise spans more than 50 locations across the Pacific, sharpening the U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly deploy, sustain operations and project airpower in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 14th Fighter Generation Squadron and the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron prepare an F-16C Fighting Falcon for hot pit refueling during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025

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U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 14th Fighter Generation Squadron and the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron prepare an F-16C Fighting Falcon for hot pit refueling during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 23, 2025. The exercise spans more than 50 locations across the Pacific, sharpening the U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly deploy, sustain operations and project airpower in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andre Medina)

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