LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Many former and present 71st Fighter Squadron "Ironmen" gathered in front of 1st Fighter Wing Headquarters June 18. They were joined by members of the 1st Fighter Association and the Langley Civic Leaders Association.
Part of the "7.1 days of Ironman inactivation," representatives from the Boeing Company spoke of the venerable Eagle and unveiled a new bronze plaque for the F-15 that rests beside the F-22 at the headquarters building. With the impending closure of the last of Langley's F-15 squadron Sept. 30 of this year, it was an appropriate occasion to remind those assembled about the long relationship the base has had with the Eagle.
James A. Firth, director of the Newport News Boeing Field Office, served as the keynote speaker for the event. His initial comments fit the theme for the week, remarking with levity that if he had known it was going to be so hot, he would have kept his speech to less than 71 minutes in length.
A command pilot with more than 3,700 hours in the T-38, F-16 and the F-15, Firth spoke of the storied history of the 1st Pursuit Group, to which the 1 FW traces its heritage, and how Eddie Rickenbacker, Frank Luke and Raoul Lufbery, pilot aces from the 'great war,' made the wing such a great unit from the start.
On March 14, 1974, HQ USAF announced its plans to station the Air Force's first operational F-15 wing at Langley. The first Eagle arrived at Langley in December of 1975.
"For the past 34 years, there have been 441,000 sorties in Eagles," said Firth.
On Aug. 7, 1990, the 1 FW, then known as the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield, adding to the list of firsts by becoming the first U.S. unit to establish air superiority over Saudi Arabia. Through both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the wing flew more than 6,200 sorties and nearly 25,000 flying hours. He also reminded the crowd of the aerial victory during Desert Storm was accomplished by Maj. Steve Tate -- of the 71 FS.
"The F-15 has evolved a lot," said Firth. He said the first Eagles had "24K of memory. Your watch has more memory!" He added the teams of professionals who have worked on the F-15 over the years should all be honored, "and because of them, we can go anywhere in the world and establish air supremacy."
Col. Matt Molloy, 1 FW commander, took the podium following Firth's address.
"To the Ironmen," to which 71 FS Airmen of all ranks responded, "Iron!"
Twice.
"The Eagle is the most successful of all fighters. One hundred and four to zero," the colonel reminded all of the air-to-air record of the F-15. "One hundred and four enemy aircraft reduced to hair, teeth and eyeballs."
He admitted it is a lopsided proportion and not a fair fight. Appropriately, "aut vincere aut mori," or "conquer or die," is the 1 FW's motto.
"The F-15 is a personification of our motto," said Molloy.