... die F-16 hat ja einen hellen Fleck an den linken statischen Ableitern - wohl eine schnelle Reparatur, auf jeden Fall unüblich, deswegen würde ich mal davon ausgehen, dass das zweite Bild auch die 91-0344 ist...
Hast recht! Auch die Gebrauchsspuren stimmen überein.
Wie schon angekündigt, hier meine gegenwärtigen Erkenntnisse zum Austausch der Spang Vipers im Irak. Der Einfachheit halber poste ich die englischsprachige Version aus meinem Balad Topic auf F-16.net. Das erspart mir das Umschreiben. Wäre sehr hilfreich, wenn sich dank Eurer Beobachtungen, Logs und Bilder zumindest einige offene Fragen klären ließen.
Hauptinfo (8. März):
As announced above, I will post some info about the recent Spang Vipers swap at Balad AB. Related to this swap, via PMs I got info from two different sources. Let me talk at first about the current 23rd EFS deployment:
On January 29, 2008, the first source told me: "I can tell you that 12 F-16s from Spangdahlem are heading for Balad today as Trend21 and Trend31."
On February 13, 2008, the same source told me: "8 Feb 08 Trend31 6 x F-16s from Spangdahlem to Sigonella. 9 Feb 08 Trend31 6 x F-16s from Sigonella to Al Asad. 8 tail numbers were quoted so I guess two were airspares. 91-0416, 90-0813, 90-0831, 91-0403, 91-0402, 91-0340, 92-3918 and 91-0341."
On February 14, 2008, from the same source I got the additional info: "Trend35, 2 x F-16s have filed from Spangdahlem to Balad tomorrow. Only serial quoted is 96-0083. Tanker is Gold05."
According to the first source, Trend 21 (probably six F-16s with still unknown serial numbers) could be really departed on January 29, 2008, but Trend 31 followed one week later as originally planned (probably related to tanker support). Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella is an usual stopover point for deployments to and for redeployments from the CENTCOM AOR. But using Al Asad Airfield, Iraq – operated by USMC – for a last F-16 stopover enroute to Balad AB is absolutely new to me!
I hate it to speculate, but in this case please let me post the following preview:
AEF 1/2 (Cycle 7) rotation (January – April 2008)
23rd FS "Fighting Hawks", 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)
12 F-16CJ Block 50
Departed with Trend 21:
probably six aircraft with unknown serial numbers
Departed with Trend 31:
90-0813 Block 50B, 22nd FS
90-0831 Block 50B, 22nd FS
91-0340 Block 50C, 22nd FS
91-0341 Block 50C, 22nd FS
91-0402 Block 50D, 23rd FS
91-0403 Block 50D, 23rd FS
91-0416 Block 50D, 23rd FS, marked 52 OG
92-3918 Block 50P, 23rd FS
(As the first source mentioned probably two of them were air spares which possibly returned home.)
Departed with Trend 35:
96-0083 Block 50, 23rd FS
plus a second aircraft with unknown serial number
Deployed as 23rd EFS.
Please note: Trend 35 as a flight of only two aircraft suggest again that not all happened as originally planned (related to Trend 21 and Trend 31).
Secondly, I will update the 22nd EFS redeployment.
Please remember that we got photo proofs for only nine of the twelve deployed 22nd EFS Vipers (already posted to this topic):
AEF 9/10 (Cycle 6) rotation (September – December 2007)
22nd FS "Stingers", 52nd FW (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany (SP)
12 F-16CJ Block 50
90-0818 Block 50B, 22nd FS [USAF photos]
91-0336 Block 50B, 22nd FS [Stars and Stripes photo] [USAF photo]
91-0339 Block 50C, 22nd FS [USAF photos]
91-0351 Block 50C, 22nd FS [USAF photo]
91-0406 Block 50D, 22nd FS [private Jeff Stoermer photo, via Henrik] [USAF photo]
91-0418 Block 50D, 23rd FS [private Elliboom photo]
91-0421 Block 50D, 23rd FS [private hagfan photo]
92-3915 Block 50P, 23rd FS [USAF photo]
96-0080 Block 50, 23rd FS (marked 23 FS) [USAF photo]
Deployed as 22nd EFS.
On February 13, 2008, the first source also told me:
"11 Feb 08 Cube71 6 x F-16s from Balad to Sigonella to Spangdahlem. Tail numbers […] were 91-0418, 91-0336, 91-0344, 91-0343, 91-0351 and 91-0408."
Cube 71 must be the first wave of the returned 22nd EFS package. And if this serial number info is correct, the remaining three of the twelve deployed 22nd EFS aircraft (still not verified by photos) should be:
91-0343 Block 50C, 22nd FS NEW
91-0344 Block 50C, 22nd FS NEW
91-0408 Block 50D, 22nd FS NEW
On February 14, 2008, Henrik told me: "Yesterday four SP Vipers landed at Aviano with c/s Cube 71-74, they are 91-0351, 91-0338, 91-0343 22FS and 91-0418 23 FS. All departed this afternoon to Spangdhalem c/s Sting 01-04. I believe they were on their way home from Balad."
Henrik´s info is based on a second source. This source posted to the Scramble Messageboard on
www.scramble.nl on February 15, 2008:
"Four F-16s arrived at Aviano last wednesday: 91-0418b, 91-0343r, 91-0338, 91-0351r as Cube 71-74, departed to ETAD yesterday afternoon as Sting 01-04."
(ETAD = Spangdahlem AB, Wednesday = February 13, 2008)
Note: The new 91-0343 goes conform with the serial numbers quoted by the first source. Could 91-0338 be a typo, meaning either 91-0336 or 91-0339 (already verified by photos)? On the other hand: If 91-0338 (22nd FS) is correct, then either 91-0344 or 91-0408 must be false.
And according to latest official USAF photos, released by 332nd AEW, at least two Vipers of the 22nd EFS fighter package (91-0421 and 92-3915) awaited their departure at Balad AB on February 21, 2008.
That means, the 22nd EFS fighter package returned home at least in two waves – if not in more waves.
I still await a photo proof from the second source to verify the questionable 91-0338.
Any corrections from involved service members? We would be very grateful for any support!
Nachgeschobene Info (auch 8. März):
Please remember: On February 13, 2008, the first source told me: "8 Feb 08 Trend31 6 x F-16s from Spangdahlem to Sigonella. 9 Feb 08 Trend31 6 x F-16s from Sigonella to Al Asad. 8 tail numbers were quoted so I guess two were airspares. 91-0416, 90-0813, 90-0831, 91-0403, 91-0402, 91-0340, 92-3918 and 91-0341."
But in contrast, according to a post to the "Scramble Messageboard" on
www.scramble.nl, 91-0340, 91-0341 and 91-0402, were spotted at Spang on March 3, 2008. That means, they must include the two mentioned air spares plus another jet which not really deployed!
To cover the current 23rd EFS deployment, we simply need related USAF photos, released for public! And so I hope, 332nd AEW PA will give us the right food...
Any deployed people who can/will hook up us?
