391st FS jets return home from Afghanistan

Fourteen F-15E Strike Eagle, jets and 28 aircrew returned home to Mountain Home AFB last week, May 23, after an historic, four-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Aircrew and jets with the 391st Fighter Squadron's "Bold Tigers," became the first F-15E unit to ever deploy to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of operation Enduring Freedom.

The Bold Tigers flew more than 1,000 combat missions to provide close-air-support to U.S. and coalition ground forces, protect key infrastructure and to deter and intercept any terrorist activities.

The squadron was also the first to drop the Air Force's new small-diameter bomb in combat.

"This has been such a great opportunity for this squadron," said Lt. Col, Brian Kirkwood, 391st FS commander, who was also deployed with the unit.

"To be the first sustained F-15E mission here has been such a positive experience for us. These guys have been so outstanding that we were able to fly our sorties within 36 hours of our initial arrival."

The nearly 30 pilots and weapon systems officers were part of about 1,000 Gunfighters deployed in support of the Global War on Terror since December 2006. Airmen began returning home in early May, including a group of more than 200 maintenance Airmen who were also deployed to Afghanistan to provide launch, munitions and avionics support to the Bold Tiger jets.