1994-1996 Operation Provide Comfort II

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.

– 1995 Annual Report pp. 1
EAGLES SPREAD THEIR
WINGS FLYING BEHINDAN ACTIVE DUTY KC-10– The Hawaii Air National Guard’s F-15 Eagles depart for Incirlik
Air Base, Turkey, to fly in Operation Provide Comfort II. The 199th Fighter Squadron’s mission: to patrol the northern no-fly zone of Iraq. Staff Sgt. Delmar Galicianao photo
DADDY’S HOME — The 154th Group returned home from Operation Provide Comfort II to a heroes’ welcome at Hickam Air Force Base where they were met by their families. Tech. Sgt. Wayne Pontes Photo
(Pictures from the 1995 Annual Report)

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.

– 1995 Annual Report pp. 15

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