US Air Force Base Nellis bid farewell to one of its last few F-15C fighters as the aircraft departed to its final active flying unit, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, on March 16.
Back in December 2021, it was announced that the last cadre of F-15C students and instructors flew their final defensive counter-air mission for the United States Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB.
At Nellis, the Eagle Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 57th Wing Maintenance Group, maintained 16 F-15Cs. The jets have been relocated to several locations including various Guard units and also Eglin AFB for test missions. Others are scheduled to be sent to a depot for refurbishing or to a boneyard in Arizona.
Since its inception in 1977, the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s Eagle Aircraft Maintenance Unit has been making history by supporting generations of weapons-qualified F-15C pilots. Over 100 undergraduate classes have been completed; making over 500 pilots combat capable, enhancing America’s air superiority and lethality.
“Eagle’s maintenance operations have made an incredible achievement by supporting over 88,000 flights; producing more than 111,000 hours of flight-weapons training,” said Col. Barton Kenerson, 57th Maintenance Group commander. “That’s equivalent to over 12 years of non-stop flying. Eagle is standing down, but its legacy will continue to support the fight.”
“As we refocus Eagle’s personnel on the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter, the F-15E, I want the men and women of Eagle to know how extremely proud I am of their dedication, expertise and work,” said Kenerson. “I look forward to seeing how our team will continue to build F-15E Weapons School Pilots and field critical-combat capabilities to the battlefield.”
For years, the F-15C has occupied a spot with Eagle AMU. Following the departure of the aircraft, the maintenance unit will soon deactivate, and maintainers will be assigned locally or will be relocated to meet the needs of the Air Force.
