Heritage Day at MHAFB

Local artist Marcus Mashburn has produced a huge mural, commissioned by former 366th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Anthony Rock, that will hang in the Gunfighter Club's Doom Room on base. The work was prepared for the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force celebration and was initially exhibited in the main hangar during change of command ceremonies ten days ago when Col. James Browne assumed command of the wing.

Heritage Day at Mountain Home AFB Friday offered the 366th Fighter Wing an opportunity to show off its mission and that of the Air Force.

The event was part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Air Force as a separate branch of the service.

Col. James S. Browne, the new wing commander, opened the event by thanking the volunteers and partners who made the special day possible.

He noted that, "on Sept. 18, 1947, the United States Air Force became a separate branch... and has grown to become the premier air force" in the world.

Browne told the crowd attending the event that the Air Force currently has 53 percent of its forces engaged in the Global War on Terrorism, "larger than any other service. The Air Force is truly the 'go-to" force" for the United States.

With the wing's roots going back to WWII, Browne said that "the Gunfighters continue to provide combatant forces to the commanders in the field," with units and individuals constantly deployed to the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He thank the community of Mountain Home and the people of Idaho for the "continued patriotism and support" of the Gunfighter mission, and told the base personnel present that "you have answered the call to the profession of arms... and made the United States Air Force the best in the world."

Because it was a work day for the civilian community, crowds were fairly light, but those that attended were treated to a number of static displays put on by the various base squadrons.

The highlight of the day's activities was a mini-air show performed by the A-10 Demonstration Team, showing the unique flight characteristics and capabilities of the the armored tank killer, and a 'heritage flight" involving a series of passes over the flight line by an A-10 and a WWII P-51 Mustang fighter.