Asia-Pacific
Combat jets complete U.S.-Korea exercise
Stars and Stripes
July 28, 2010
At Osan Air Base in South Korea on Wednesday, a 51st Fighter Wing airman makes final adjustments to ordnance on an F-16C fighter jet before the pilot takes off to a training range south of Korea?s Demilitarized Zone. The mission was one of many combat training sorties flown by U.S. and South Korean aircraft during Invincible Spirit, a four-day show of naval and air power. The exercise concluded Wednesday night. (Paul Holcomb/Courtesy of the U.S)
At Osan Air Base in South Korea on Wednesday, a 51st Fighter Wing airman makes final adjustments to ordnance on an F-16C fighter jet before the pilot takes off to a training range south of Korea?s Demilitarized Zone. The mission was one of many combat training sorties flown by U.S. and South Korean aircraft during Invincible Spirit, a four-day show of naval and air power. The exercise concluded Wednesday night. (Paul Holcomb/Courtesy of the U.S)
Air Force Capt. Christopher Moeller inspects his F-16C fighter jet Wednesday at Osan Air Base, South Korea, before a combat training mission in which he dropped 500-pound bombs at a training range south of Korea?s Demilitarized Zone. Moeller is with the 36th Fighter Squadron, part of Osan?s 51st Fighter Wing. The mission was one of many combat training sorties flown by U.S. and South Korean aircraft during Invincible Spirit, the four-day exercise that concluded Wednesday night. (Franklin Fisher/Stars and Stripe)
Air Force Capt. Christopher Moeller, left, is assisted by an airman as he settles into the cockpit of his F-16C fighter jet Wednesday at Osan Air Base, South Korea, before a training mission. Moeller was going to drop 500-pound bombs at a training range south of Korea?s Demilitarized Zone as part of the Invincible Spirit exercise. Moeller is with the 36th Fighter Squadron, part of Osan?s 51st Fighter Wing. (Franklin Fisher/Stars and Stripe)
On the flight line at Osan Air Base in South Korea on Wednesday, Air Force Capt. Christopher Moeller at the controls of an F-16C fighter jet follows the signals of an airman before a mission in which he dropped 500-pound bombs at a training range south of Korea?s Demilitarized Zone. Moeller is with the 36th Fighter Squadron, part of Osan?s 51st Fighter Wing. The mission was one of many combat training sorties flown by U.S. and South Korean aircraft during Invincible Spirit, a four-day show of naval and air power. The exercise concluded Wednesday night. (Franklin Fisher/Stars and Stripe)
Two F-16C fighter jets take off on a combat training mission Wednesday at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Flying the mission as part of the Invincible Spirit exercise were Capt. Christopher Moeller and Capt. David Bennett, both of the 36th Fighter Squadron, part of Osan?s 51st Fighter Wing. The exercise concluded Wednesday night. (Paul Holcomb/Courtesy of the U.S)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Fighter jets from Osan Air Base flew mock combat sorties with live munitions Wednesday in the final day of Invincible Spirit, the four-day U.S.-South Korean show of naval and air power.
Wednesday’s sorties included two F-16Cs dropping 500-pound bombs at the Nightmare bombing range, about 12 miles south of Korea’s Demilitarized Zone.
Jets from Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing flew a total of 12 mock combat sorties Wednesday. The 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base also launched sorties during the exercise, helping make up what the U.S. military called a “robust air component.” Other U.S. aircraft, including the advanced F-22 Raptor fighter and KC-135 tankers, as well as land-based South Korean aircraft, also flew combat training missions.
Invincible Spirit began Sunday and brought together about 20 warships, 200 aircraft and 8,000 servicemembers of both countries, mostly in waters off South Korea’s east coast.
Officials said it was to be the first in a series of such exercises aimed to warning North Korea against the consequences of pursuing aggression against South Korea.
— Franklin Fisher