Deployment

Staff Sgt. Shawn Mackey, 48th Munitions Squadron, creates a playlist for the flight to Southwest Asia while he waits for the buses to take him to the unit deployment facility, Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. More than 300 Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Deployment

Staff Sgt. Chad Gartman, Senior Airman Virgina Beck and Senior Airman Joel Kitts, 48th Munitions Squadron storage crew chiefs, play a game to pass the time while they wait for the buses to take them to the unit deployment facility, Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. More than 300 Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Deployment

Master Sgt. Rodney Hoyte, 48th Air Craft Maintence Squadron, steps on a scale to weigh himself and his carry-on baggage Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. Airmen and ther gear must be weighed to determine how much fuel will be needed for the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Deployment

Staff Sgt. David Folger, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, cooks hamburgers and hot dogs outside the unit deplyment facilty, Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. Airmen volunteered to cook food for the deploying Airmen before they get on the plane. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Deployment

Airmen use the exhaust from the MD-11 to keep warm while they wait for the deployers' luggage to arrive so it can be loaded on the plane, Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. More than 300 Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Deployment

Col. Jay Silveria, 48th Fighter Wing commander, greets Airmen at unit deployment facility, Jan. 3 at RAF Lakenheath, England. The commander wished all the Airmen a safe a speedy return from their deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston)

Airmen deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

Published Jan. 7, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Torri K. Larson
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- More than 250 Liberty Warriors deployed Jan. 3 to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Airmen will be in the deployed location for about four months, during which time, they will perform basic duties and responsibilities that they have here.

"The main body left today (Jan. 3)," said Lt. Col. Matthew Finnegan, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. "We have three more chalks with all our equipment and about 20 F-15 Strike Eagles deploying to the same location."

He said this deployment has the most aircraft of any the 48th Fighter Wing has ever sent out. The jets are from the 492nd Fighter Squadron and their primary mission will be close-air support for U.S. and coalition forces.

"We're here to support the mission," Colonel Finnegan said. "If support is needed, we'll do whatever is required to support the troops."

Col. Jay Silveria, 48th FW commander, gave the Airmen a warm send off and wished them a safe and speedy return.

"I want to thank the leadership and the Airmen for what they're doing for their country," he said. "Everyone will need to step up to make up for those who are deployed."

He said, sometimes back home, it's busier than being in a deployed location. He stressed the importance of filling in the gaps and taking care of families.

"We don't want our deployed Airmen distracted," Colonel Silveria said. "We're anxious to help out the families of those who are gone. It's very important to the mission to take care of our families."