Department of Defense

Hawaii Air Guard to patrol Iraqi no-fly zone

Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s(HIANG) 154th Group will deploy to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Dec. 3, for operation “Provide Comfort II.”‘

Guard F-15 pilots will fly sorties to ensure that lraqi air forces adhere to the “no-fly” zone in northern Iraq, above the 36th parallel. The operation has denied flight to Iraqi air forces since the end of the Persian GulfWar.

Approximately 160 members of the 154th Group will deploy during the month-long rotation.

Lt. Col. Peter Pawling, 154th Operations Group commander, will lead HIANG forces deploying to Turkey.

U.S. Air Force units have patrolled the northern and southern no-fly zones of Iraq in order to protect Iraqi Kurds and Shiites, for more than three years. The 154th Group and the 159th Group from the Louisiana Air National Guard have been selected to temporarily relieve active duty forces based in Europe.

– 1994 September – October Pūpūkahi pp. 1

Command Notes

This has been a particularly momentous year for the Hawaii National Guard, one that will be capped off with the 154th Group deployment to Incirlik, Air Base, Turkey, for Operation Provide Comfort II.

I am proud that the 154th Group was selected for this mission, which is not just important to the HIANG but to the entire Air National Guard. The group’s participation in Provide Comfort II demonstrates the HIANG’s capability of deploying anywhere in the world. This will be a complex deployment, transporting a total of eight F15s from the HIANG and 159th Group in Louisiana, spare parts and support personnel half way around the world to Turkey. The 154th Group is well trained and fully capable of handling the mission of patrolling the nofly zone in northern Iraq.

The active duty Air Force has been patrolling the no-fly zones of lraq since the end of the Gulf War, and relief is needed for units that have been pulling extended tours of duty. With the downsizing of the U.S. military, the Pentagon is placing a greater reliance on the Guard for missions such as Provide Comfort II. This is another opportunity for the Guard to work side-by-side with our active duty counterparts.

Deploying to Turkey means that our personnel will spend time away from their families during the Christmas and New Year holidays. I want to thank all of the HIANG families for their understanding and support of this important tasking. The understanding of the employers of our drill-status personnel, who must take time off from their civilian jobs, is also greatly appreciated.

I am grateful to our deploying personnel for the contribution they are making to our state and country

– 1994 September – October Pūpūkahi pp. 2

Hawaii Army National Guard

154th Group: Operation Provide Comfort II

Good luck and best wishes to the airmen of the 154th Group, Hawaii Air National Guard who will be deploying in December to the Iraqi area of operations to participate in Provide Comfort II. They have shown time after time that they are the best in what they do, and I know they will perform in an outstanding manner. We look forward to welcoming them all back in January.

– 1994 September – October Pūpūkahi pp. 6

First group returns home from deployment in Turkey

Story and photo by 1st Lt. Charles J. Anthony

Thirty-three members of the 154th Group who had deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey for Provide Comfort II received a rousing homecoming at Honolulu International Airport, Dec 30. A welcoming committee that included Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson, Family Support Group, members of the 154th Group, friends, family, and others who just happened to be at the airport at that time applauded and cheered as the Hawaii Air National Guard personnel exited the aircraft.

“We can be proud of the job our Hawaii Guard members performed while in Turkey and in the skies above northern Iraq,” said Richardson, state adjutant general. “They’ve clearly demonstrated the HIANG can deploy anywhere around the world as part of the total Air Force.”

“Actually, the flying was a lot less nerve wracking than I thought it would be,” said Lt. Col. Pete Pawling, the HIANG detachment commander. “The maintenance guys really impressed me, working under austere conditions-in freezing cold, at night, in the wind and rain-yet they never complained.”

Accommodations for the maintenance crews meant sleeping in “tent city” at Incirlik.

“Sometimes the heat would go out in the middle of the night. Sometimes the showers only had cold water. It was a challenge, but we handled it all right,” said Staff Sgt. Rex Godinez, a member of the 154th Maintenance Squadron.

1st Lt. Chris Faurot, a pilot with the 199th Fighter Squadron, said they didn’t encounter any problems patrolling the no-fly zone.

“We saw Iraqi aircraft on our radar on the other side of the no-fly zone, but they never tried to engage us.”

– 1994 November – December Pūpūkahi pp. 4

Hawaii National Guard

As I write this article, men and women of the 154th Group are in Turkey on the Provide Comfort II mission. They will be spending the holidays in this foreign country flying missions over Iraq enforcing the no-fly zone to protect the Kurds from Saddam Hussein and his forces. I had the opportunity to visit with our people before they deployed. It was truly gratifying to see the sense of excitement on the faces of our troops as they boarded airplanes on their way to Turkey. Again, men and women of the HIANG are performing real world missions when called upon to do so. We are truly a militia nation.

– 1994 November – December Pūpūkahi pp. 5

154th Group back from Turkey

By 1st Lt. Charles J. Anthony

It was a hero’s welcome, Jan. 11, at Hickam Air Force Base for 122 members of the 154th Group as they finished the last leg of their journey which had taken them half way around the world and back. Personnel of the 154th Group along with F-15s from the 199th Fighter Squadron deployed Dec. 3 to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, for Operation Provide Comfort II, patrolling the northern no-fly zone of lraq.

A total of 160 personnel participated in the deployment, which began Dec. 3.

Maj. Gen. EdwardV. Richardson, state adjutant general,Maj. Gen.J.M “Boomer” McBroom, deputy commander, Pacific Air Forces, and several hundred friends and family members greeted the Hawaii Air National Guard airmen as they exited the commercially chartered L-10- 11 behind the AMC Terminal.

The State Family Program Coordinator, Lt. Laura Jones, and others had arranged for the warm reception. Music was provided by the Hawaii Army Guard’s 111th Army Band

“When I went to Vietnam, only my immediate family saw me off at the airport,” said Richardson. “And when I came back, they were the only ones to welcome me home. I didn’t want that to happen again to our people.”

The Hawaii Air National Guard pilots flew more than 60 sorties over Iraqi territory, chalking up more than 240 hours in the air. They protected ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq by keeping Iraqi air forces out of the no-fly zone imposed by the United Nations at the end of the GulfWar. “It was pretty routine, except for a few seconds of excitement,”saidLt Col.EdPickering, 199th Fighter Squadron pilot, referring to one instance when Iraqi warplanes were detected just south of the no-fly zone.

– 1995 January – February Pūpūkahi pp. 3

Hawaii Air National Guard

Overseas deployments

Things continue to happen at a frantic pace for all of us in the Hawaii Air National Guard. In the last few months, members of the HIANG have been to the far comers of the earth. Men and women of the 154th Group participated in Provide Comfort II operating out of Turkey. They were afforded an opportunity to present Gen. RonaldR Fogelman a lei on Christmas Day as he visited Incirlik Air Base. I’m not sure the general even knew our people were there but he found out real quick who they were and what they were about. Our people performed a challenging mission, at a difficult time of the year, flawlessly bringing much well deserved kudos to our people. They also spent some time in the local communities. Lt. Col. Pete Pawling’s home video made of visits to local communities and shown on our local television after our forces returned home brought a real down to earth touch to the mission in the Middle East. It showed that not only were our people true warriors but they were also the people next door. We need to do more of that to show the Hawaiian people how well the Hawaii Air Guard represents our local community in the world community.

– 1995 January – February Pūpūkahi pp. 4

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

F-15s enforce Iraqi no-fly zone

Capt. Chartes J. Anthony

Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing are flying daily patrol missions into the northern no-fly zone of lraq. F-15 “Eagles” and pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron, are flying defensive counter air cap missions, which means they are the first coalition aircraft to fly into the northern no-fly zone during patrol sorties and the last to leave, according to Lt. Col. Gary Peters, the detachment Commander. Other coalition aircraft currently flying the northern no-fly zone include British “Tornadoes ” French “Jaguars” and Air National Guard F-16 “Fighting Falcons” from Iowa.

“Patrols so far have been fairly routine,” said Peters.

The Hawaii Air National Guard deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, March 7, for Operation Provide Comfort II. F-15s and pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron, as well as support personnel from the
154th Maintenance, 154th Logistics and 154th Aircraft Generation Squadrons, are participating in the operation. All Hawaii Air National Guard units are part of the 154th Wing, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base.

Peters has a great appreciation for the maintenance personnel. He called the aircraft maintenance “outstanding”

This is the second time that the Hawaii Air Guard has deployed to Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort ll. In December 1994, the 199th Fighter Squadron became the first Air National F-15 unit in the nation to patrol the Iraqi northern no fly zone. About half of the pilots gained experience patrolling the no-fly zone in the ’94 deployment. Maj. William Ladd is one of those who just completed his first flight over Iraq.

“You get a little anxious about it. This is the first time you’re going over hostile territory,” said Ladd

“You’ve got to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.”

Capt. Adrian Kinimaka flew over Iraqi territory during the unit’s first deployment. “We are well prepared,” said Kinimaka. “We practiced back home. I think this (northern Iraq) is a good place to validate our employment standards.”

The Iraqi no-fly zones were imposed by the United Nations at the end of the Gulf War. The no-fly zone, above the 36th parallel, was imposed to protect ethnic Kurds from the forces of Saddam Hussein.

The officers and airmen are scheduled to return to Hawaii, April 10.

– 1996 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 1

Provide Comfort II

Provide Comfort II is going well with members of our 199th deployed to Turkey to support United Nations sanctions and operations over Northern Iraq. This is the second deployment for the squadron to support PC II, the first coming during the Christmas period of ’94. This deployment is indicative of the increased operations tempo occurring in the Guard as the active force is downsized, but still expected to meet an increased number of commitments. This increased operations tempo is evident in all our units as the Guard takes on more tasking in the total force concept. Our KC-135 and C-130 squadrons are flying operational missions throughout the western Pacific, the CONUS, Iceland and Europe. Our 201st Combat Communications Group is supporting operations in Europe and exercises throughout the Pacific. As long as the US is committed to operations like Provide Comfort and Deny Flight, the Guard will be asked to assume a greater share of the tasking. In the HIANG, it changes the way we do business. Involved Leadership, improved recruitment and retention, increased participation by our traditional guardspeople, trained personnel, and operational equipment are critical to our ability to handle this changed and increased OPTEMPO.

– 1996 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 7

Command Notes

Hawaii Air Guard personnel returned in early January after performing duty at lncirlik Air Base, Turkey. Members of the 154th Maintenance Squadron volunteered to support Operation NORTHERN WATCH, the United Nations effort patrolling the northern no-fly zone of lraq. All of the volunteers are KC-135 guidance and control technicians who temporarily relieved active-duty personnel. They are Master Sgt. William Zambo, Tech. Sgt. Carl Reynolds, Tech. Sgt. Steven Mori, Staff Sgt. Melvin Matsushima and Staff Sgt. Joseph Roache.

– 1997 December – 1998 January Pūpūkahi pp. 2

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