First Combat-Coded F-35As Arrive at Hill AFB

By Chuck Oldham (Editor) - September 3, 2015

The first two operational F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrive at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Sept. 2, 2015. The jets were piloted by Col. David Lyons, 388th Fighter Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, 34th Fighter Squadron director of operations. Hill will receive up to 70 additional combat-coded F-35s on a staggered basis through 2019. The jets will be flown and maintained by Hill Airmen assigned to the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and its Reserve component 419th Fighter Wing. U.S. Air Force photo by Alex R. Lloyd

While the Air Force’s unique 33^rd Fighter Wing “Nomads” at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, currently operates all three variants in three different fighter squadrons flown by three different services, the aircraft in the training wing are early production birds, most without full combat capability. The three squadrons of the 33^rd Fighter Wing include the Air Force’s 58^th Fighter Squadron “Mighty Gorillas” flying the F-35A, the Navy’s VF-101 “Grim Reapers” flying the F-35C, and the Marine Corps’ VMFAT-501 “Warlords” flying the F-35B.

The Marine Corps, flying the F-35B, declared initial operating capability with their first operational squadron, VMFA-121 “Green Knights,” at the end of July.

An F-35A Lightning II aircraft passes under a water arch at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Sept. 2, 2015. The jet and another F-35A, the first of the Air Force’s newest fifth-generation fighter aircraft to arrive at the base, were delivered by Col. David Lyons, 388th Fighter Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, 34th Fighter Squadron director of operations. The rest of the fleet of up to 72 F-35s will be coming in on a staggered basis through 2019. The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill were selected as the first Air Force units to fly combat-coded F-35s. U.S. Air Force photo by R. Nial Bradshaw

“This is a great day in the history of Hill Air Force Base. We have to have these aircraft to achieve air dominance in the future for the United States,” said Col. Bryan Radliff, 419th Fighter Wing commander. “We are extremely proud to be a part of this association.”

The 388^th and 419^th are carrying on a tradition of being early adopters. They were also the first units to receive combat-coded F-16s.

While only the first two aircraft have so far arrived, the wing plans to start working right away to achieve combat readiness.

“The plan is to start flying after Labor Day. We’ll start by flying twice a week, but that will slowly progress as we receive more aircraft and training progresses,” said Lt. Col. Darrin Dronoff, chief of F-35 program integration office for the 388 Fighter Wing.