Page 6 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, April 1, 2022

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An F-15C assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron takes off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 15, 2022. The F-15Cs will no longer be assigned to Nellis AFB. The aircraft will reassigned to the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base.
Air Force photograph by William R. Le
by Staff Sgt. Miranda A. Loera
Nellis AFB, Nev.
The end of an era is upon Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as the installation geared up to bid farewell to the F-15C Eagle as the aircraft prepared to depart for the last time.
On March 16, 2022 one of the last few F-15Cs departed to its final active flying unit, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Back in December 2020, it was an- nounced that the last cadre of F-15C students and instructors flew their final defensive counter-air mission for the United States Air Force Weapons School.
Since its inception in 1977, the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s Eagle Aircraft Maintenance Unit has been
making history by supporting world-class generation of weapons-qualified F-15C pilots. Over 100 undergraduate classes have been completed; making over 500 pi- lots combat capable, enhancing America’s air superiority and lethality.
“Eagle’s maintenance operations have made an incredible achievement by sup- porting over 88,000 f lights; producing more than 111,000 hours of f light-weap- ons training,” said Col. Barton Kenerson, 57th Maintenance Group commander. “That’s equivalent to over 12 years of non- stop flying. Eagle is standing down, but its legacy will continue to support the fight.”
As the United States Air Force focuses on the modernization of its technology, it will continue to advance its airpower. At Nellis, the Eagle Aircraft Maintenance
Unit, 57th Wing Maintenance Group, maintained 16 F-15Cs. The jets have been relocated to several locations that in- cluded various Guard units and also Eglin Air Force Base for test missions. Others are scheduled to be sent to a depot for refurbishing or to a boneyard in Arizona.
“As we refocus Eagle’s personnel on the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter, the F-15E, I want the men and women of Eagle to know how extremely proud I am of their dedication, expertise and work,” said Kenerson. “I look forward to seeing how our team will continue to build F-15E Weapons School Pilots and field critical- combat capabilities to the battlefield.”
For years, the F-15C has occupied a spot with Eagle AMU. Following the de- parture of the aircraft, the maintenance
unit will soon deactivate, and maintain will be assigned locally or will be rel cated to meet the needs of the Air For
Senior Airman Jose Rodriguez, 757 AMXS Eagle AMU crew chief, is one the many Airmen who performed mai tenance on the F-15C and have sent it for the final time.
“I have worked on the F-15C sin I have been at Nellis,” said Rodrigu “I thoroughly enjoyed launching the out, and just learning the ins and o of [the aircraft]. I continued to test mind by troubleshooting and changi the parts of it. As we launched out o of the last aircraft, as a unit, we push through to get everything done correc and ensured everything gets to where needed to go.”
End of an Era:
Nellis bids farewell to the soaring F-15C Eagle
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