Department of Defense

Also in FY 1995, Hawaii became the first state to deploy Air National Guard F-15 fighter aircraft to patrol the northern no-fly zone of Iraq imposed by the United Nations at the end of the Gulf War.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 18-19

Highlighting the deployment schedule was the mission flown from Turkey. In December 1994 and January 1995, F-15 Eagles from the 199th Fighter Squadron became the first Air National Guard F-15 unit in the nation to patrol the northern no-fly zone of lraq. The deployment to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, involved 160 pilots and support personnel from the 154th Group. The group’s mission during Operation Provide Comfort II was to protect ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq from the forces of Saddam Hussein by denying Iraqi aircraft from restricted airspace.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 18-19

Also, in March 1996, more than 100 men and women from the 199th Fighter Squadron and 154th maintenance and support personnel deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, for Provide Comfort II to help enforce the northern no-fly zone of Iraq. This was the second time that the Hawaii Air National Guard had deployed F-15s, pilots and maintenance crews to Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort II.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 18-19

The 154 Group teamed up with it’s sister unit, the 159th Fighter Wing from new Orleans, Louisiana to participate in Operation Provide Comfort. This program allowed ANG units, to temporarily relieve Active Duty Air Force F-15 units in Ineirlik, Turkey. permitting the Air Force members to home for the christmas holidays.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 39

Our pilots just returned from lncirlik Air Base. Turkey on 14 April 1996 where we completed the squadron’s second 30 day rotation in Operation Provide Comfort II from Incirlik AB Turkey. Fifteen pilots volunteered to fly combat air patrol over Northern Iraq to maintain vigilance over the Regime of Saddam Hussein. The squadron flew 107 combat and combat support sorties to accumulate a total of 366 combat hours, during the 30-day deployment.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 39

The Maintenance Squadron augmented the Aircraft Generation Squadron F-15 contingent during the 154
Wing’s deployments to Incirlik, Turkey, participating in the Provide Comfort II program for the last two years. This program allowed the ANG to fly in real world missions. protecting the “No Fly Zones” over IRAQ so that the active duty units could get some much needed time off from this mission.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 60

The unit also deployed to Incirlik AB. Turkey, in March 1996 to support flying combat patrols over Northern Iraq as part of Operation Provide Comfort II.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 62