Loader in waiting

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Dean Cook motions for Senior Airman Robert Charron to move his forklift and its pallet of cargo forward as Senior Airman Raymond Castoreno guides it into a C-130 Hercules. All three Airmen are assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location providing tactical airlift supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant Cook is a loadmaster assigned to the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Airman Charron and Airman Castoreno are assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Aaron Burgstein)

Loader in waiting

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Richard Baarda waits on the ramp of a C-130 Hercules for a pallet of cargo to be brought onboard. He and other Airmen of the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and its sister squadron, the 386th EAS, provide tactical airlift supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Sergeant Baarda is a loadmaster. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Aaron Burgstein)

Hangin’ out

OVER IRAQ (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Katie Jacquard scans for threats while aboard a C-130 Hercules. She is a loadmaster with the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The 746th EAS is one of two airlift squadrons assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and provides tactical airlift supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Aaron Burgstein)

William Tell 2004

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Airman 1st Class Aaron Hastings catches jet fuel from an F-15 Eagle shortly after it landed here Nov. 8 during William Tell 2004. This is the 50th anniversary of the William Tell competition. Pilots, weapons loaders and maintainers from five F-15 fighter wings are competing. Airman Hastings is assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel DeCook)

First operational F/A-22 rolls out

MARIETTA, Ga. -- Col. Frank Gorenc addresses the crowd at Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 Raptor factory here Oct. 27. He and other members of the 1st Fighter wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., were here for the roll-out of wing's first operational Raptor. The aircraft will now undergo a modification process before arriving at the base in May. Colonel Gorenc is the 1st FW commander. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Bases, aircraft prepare for Hurricane Ivan

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen from the 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here complete final launch preparations at end of the runway early Sept. 14. About 34 F-15 Eagles assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing are being evacuated because of Hurricane Ivan. The aircraft will be temporarily stationed elsewhere until conditions at Eglin AFB are safe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Zoellner)

Air power!

OVER IRAQ -- A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons launch flares during a mission Aug. 18. The aircraft are assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and deployed from the New Mexico Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)

Air power!

OVER IRAQ -- A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons launch flares during a mission Aug. 18. The aircraft are assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, from the New Mexico Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)

Gas 'n go

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon banks during a mission Aug. 16. The F-16 is from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)

Gas 'n go

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker on Aug. 16. The F-16 is from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and the KC-135 is from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott Reed)

Past and present

OVER LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- A P-40 Tomahawk and an A-10 Thunderbolt II fly in close formation here June 4. This formation represents the heritage between the 23rd Fighter Group of World War II which stood down to become the famous Flying Tigers, and the legacy which continues today. The P-40 was brought to Langley for the Flying Tigers reunion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

President Ronald Reagan's funeral procession

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) -- F-15E Strike Eagle pilots from the 4th Fighter Wing here prepare to takeoff for Washington to perform a 21-ship flyover and a missing-man formation tribute for former President Ronald Reagan's funeral procession. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Pope)