HC-130J Combat King IIs assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, undergo preflight preparation on the flightline before Red Flag 16-4 night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Red Flag missions are conducted on the 2.9 million acre Nevada Test and Training Range with 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems and opposing enemy forces.
An Airman assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., walks on top of an HC-130J Combat King II before Red Flag 16-4 night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Red Flag provides an opportunity for aircrew and military aircraft to enhance their tactical operational skills alongside coalition forces.
Airmen assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., prepare an HC-130J Combat King II for Red Flag 16-4 night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. HC-130J crews normally fly at night at low to medium altitude levels in contested or sensitive environments, both over land and water. Crews use night vision goggles for tactical flight profiles to avoid detection to accomplish covert infiltration/exfiltration and transload operations.
Col. Mark Barrera, 23rd Wing vice commander, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., shakes the hand of a crew chief before Red Flag 16-4 night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Red Flag was established in 1975 as one of the initiatives directed by Gen. Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to better prepare our forces for combat.
Crew Chiefs assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., sit on the back of a HC-130J Combat King II and await aircrew’s arrival during Red Flag 16-4 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Aircraft and personnel deploy to Nellis AFB for Red Flag under the Air Expeditionary Force concept and make up the exercise’s “blue” forces.
Airmen assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., prepare the cargo area of a HC-130J Combat King II for night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Red Flag is a realistic combat exercise involving multiple military branches conducting training operations on the 15,000 square mile Nevada Test and Training Range.
An HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force, Ga., sits on the flightline before Red Flag 16-4 night operations at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 25. Red Flag involves a variety of attack, fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, airlift support, and search and rescue aircraft.