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NEWS | July 28, 2006

Langley welcomes home deployed units

By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

After two months away from home, Langley's fighter squadrons and support personnel are scheduled to return to the nest beginning Saturday.

The units left Langley for Georgia, Alaska, Utah and Florida while the base's runway was repaired.

The 71st Fighter Squadron traveled to Savannah, Ga., where F-15 crews had the opportunity to face off against Air Force, Marine, Navy and Air National Guard fighter units from all over the southeastern United States.

Lt. Col. Robert Garland, Detachment 71 commander, said the deployment to the Peach State was a success.

"It's been unbelievably outstanding," he said. "Our success is unprecedented. We've learned things like how to prepare for a large force deployment, how to work with a host unit as well as operating out of an international airport. It was a great opportunity to exercise with joint forces."

Meanwhile, F-22 Raptors from the 27th Fighter Squadron flew to the great white north to participate in Northern Edge, flying with and against aircraft from other military branches.

"We've had the chance to work with some of these assets before on a limited basis," said Lt. Col. Wade Tolliver, 27th FS commander. "But, this is really the first time we've been able to demonstrate the synergy between our resources on such a large scale. Throughout the exercise, we were able to see just how effective this jet can be at integrating with multiple joint assets for a number of different missions."

While the 27th made history in Alaska, the 94th Fighter Squadron was making history in Utah and Florida.

During the 94th's stay at Hill AFB, Utah, Lt. Col. Michael Hoepfner, 94th FS director of operations, dropped a Joint Direct Attack Munition from 50,000 feet at 1.5 mach.

"Until then, no operational F-22 had ever dropped a supersonic JDAM," he said. "No other aircraft can get up to 1.5 mach at 50,000 feet and deliver a JDAM."

At Tyndall AFB, Fla., another first was made when a Langley armament crew performed a fit test for the new Small Diameter Bomb, a weapon that will increase the number of targets an F-22 can hit by 400 percent.

"I am extremely proud of what our 1st FW Airmen accomplished this summer ... those TDY and those who remained at Langley ... getting the job done," said Brig. Gen. Burton Field, 1st Fighter Wing commander.