Personnel and F-16 aircraft, produced by Lockheed-Martin, from the 149th Fighter Wing of the Texas Air National Guard are in Poland September 10-24 to familiarize members of the Polish Air Force with U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot and maintenance procedures. Polish Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel will observe and participate in basic F-16 sorties and maintenance at Łask Air Base, Poland.
This is the first time that Polish pilots and maintenance personnel have been exposed to the F-16 since the Polish government purchased 48 F-16s in the spring of 2003. It is the first of many planned programs to ensure that, when Poland starts receiving its F-16s in 2006, the Polish Air Force will be ready to deploy and maintain them.
The 149th Fighter Wing contingent in Poland consists of about 100 members with five F-16Cs (one-seaters) and one F-16D (two-seater) plus various support equipment. Personnel include 14 pilots who are all qualified instructors with more than 1,000 hours of flying experience. The other personnel represent a variety of specialties to support the unit’s equipment and activities.
The 149th Fighter Wing is involved in this visit to Poland through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. However, the visit is being funded by the U.S.-European Command Joint Contact Team Program as part of Operation Sentry White Falcon.
While the State of Illinois has been designated as Poland’s “partner state,” Illinois’ Air National Guard unit was not able to come to Poland at this time because of operational needs. But the Texas Air National Guard was able to step in and provide a similar program. The Illinois Air National Guard will be sending a unit later in the year to provide additional familiarization.
The 149th Fighter Wing is based at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The wing is part of the Texas National Guard, which has both a federal (national) and a state mission.
In its federal mission, the 149th Fighter Wing is part of the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command and trains F-16 fighter pilots for the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves as well as Air National Guard units.
The state mission is to be prepared to respond to natural disasters and other various emergencies within Texas; the governor of Texas has the authority to “call up” elements of the Texas National Guard.
The aircraft of the 149th Fighter Wing will be on display, along with Polish Air Force aircraft, at an Open House at Łask Air Base, near Łódż, on September 18, 2004.
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