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Airmen return from European deployment

  • Published
  • By 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
  • 419th Fighter Wing

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – A group of F-35A pilots, maintainers, and support personnel returned to Utah July 30 following a two-month deployment that took them across Europe.  

While overseas, reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing and active duty Airmen from the 388th FW participated in various combat exercises and conducted training with other Europe-based aircraft as part of a Theater Security Package, which serves to strengthen ties with U.S. allies and bolster security in the region.  

The F-35s and Airmen deployed to several countries including Italy, Spain, Germany, Finland, Norway, France, England, and Estonia.   

The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW are the Air Force’s only combat-capable F-35 units, maintaining the jets in a Total Force partnership that utilizes the strengths of both components. This was their second deployment to Europe, having deployed to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, in 2017.