Hill F-35 wings complete three weeks of training in Alaska
/ Published August 27, 2020
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – Airmen from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Air Force Reserve 419th Fighter Wing returned Saturday after three weeks of training in Alaska, including Red Flag 20-3 at Eielson Air Force Base.
Red Flag is a large force combat exercise that takes place several times each year at both Eielson and Nellis AFB, Nev., where a friendly “Blue Force” takes on an enemy “Red Force” over several days in a variety of taxing, combat-realistic scenarios.
Red Flag was originally designed after the Vietnam War to provide younger pilots experience before heading into combat. Today, it also provides validation of a squadron’s readiness – from pilots, to maintainers, intelligence, and other support personnel.
During this exercise, Hill’s fighter wings integrated with F-35As from Eielson; F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; KC-135 Stratotankers from Fairchild AFB, Wash.; and special operations forces on the ground.
This was the first all fifth-generation fighter force at Red Flag. The wings generated and flew up to 16 sorties each training day during the exercise.