Tag Archives: usaf

When the Bold Tigers turned Idaho Falls Airport into a military base!

Video July 8, 2025 Hutchins AAron

In October 2024, the 391st ‘Bold Tigers’ Fighter Squadron (part of the larger 366th ‘Gunfighters’ Fighter Wing, based on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho) used the Idaho Falls (IF) Regional Airport to conduct ‘combat turn’ training.

A Bold Tiger lifts-off from the Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls, Idaho, after undergoing maintenance.

The IF airport wasn’t the only place the Bold Tigers conducted their combat turns. The wargame called Raging Gunfighter takes place at various locations throughout the U.S. Mountain West, for approximately ten days.

A Bold Tiger sits on the flightline of Wendover Airfield, Utah.

The scenario is worse-case; a ‘near-peer’ war (World War Three) has started and the F-15E Strike Eagle units must be able to deploy anywhere, as well as rearm and refuel upon landing then immediately take-off, this is known as a combat turn.

On Wendover Airfield, Utah, the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron was tasked with the hasty set up of a forward operating base, with 58 tents, 32 generators, 72 HVAC units, 36 showers, 36 latrines, plus attended to 96 work orders.

Also on Wendover, the 366th Security Forces Squadron conducted medical evacuation training.

Back on the IF airport, the 366th Communications Squadron practiced with their PRC-117G satellite communicator.

Bold Tiger F-15E Strike Eagles took off from Mountain Home AFB (possibly Magic Valley Airport in Southern Idaho), in Southwestern Idaho (I edited from video released by the 366th FW):

The Bold Tigers flew their Strike Eagles to Eastern Idaho to conduct their combat turn training (I edited from video released by the 366th FW):

An Airman with the 391st FS (Bold Tigers) marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle on the Idaho Falls Regional Airport.

A C-130J Super Hercules was used to transport ground personnel and equipment (I edited from video released by the 366th FW):

Bold Tigers fly over the Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls, Idaho, as they head home to Mountain Home AFB.

December 2024: Idaho F-15Es over Syria

March 2024: Idaho’s Garrison Forward “…accepts more risk deliberately.”

July 2023: Idaho’s Bold Tigers invade Japan?

June 2023: USMC & Idaho Air Guard preps JTAC for ‘Near Peer’ fight! With China?

October 2022: Florida Talons over Idaho Mountains

January 2019: Location of missing Idaho F-15E Strike Eagles revealed?

September 2018: Mountain Home F-15E walk-around, Micron Bus

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2025: What is PHOS-CHEK? FEMA & National Guard ops in California.

Video January 13, 2025 Hutchins AAron

PHOS CHEK is a product of a company called Perimeter Solutions. They also sell a retardant called FIRE-TROL. They claim their retardants are certified USDA “environmentally friendly”. The red color means nothing, it is one of three options for buyers, the other two are “disappearing color” and “uncolored”. Obviously the red would allow fire fighters to see where they’ve already applied the stuff.

On 12JAN2025, C-130 cargo haulers equipped with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) get loaded with brand name PHOS CHEK, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station on Port Hueneme, California. Currently there are old C-130H Hercules operated by Colorado Air Force Reserve, Nevada Air National Guard and Wyoming Air National Guard. California Air National Guard operates the newer C-130J Super Hercules. I edited video via Technical Sergeant Nicole Wright:

California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing Super Hercules water-bombing (retardant/brand name PHOS CHEK) the mountains above Pacific Palisades. The air-horn noise is the MAFFS in operation. Video via Master Sergeant Nicholas Carzis, 11JAN2025:

On 11JAN2025, California Army National Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade arrived on Camarillo Airport, to link-up with CalFire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) Fire Hawks. I edited down a video via Specialist William Franco Espinosa:

On 11JAN2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began helping survivors file claims, at the Pasadena Convention Center. FEMA video via Alexis Hall:

If you are a fire survivor and have transportation, the FEMA and The American Red Cross have set up locations across Los Angeles County, to try and help you and even your pets. FEMA video via Alexis Hall, 10JAN2025:

California Army National Guard’s 40th Military Police Company on patrol in Santa Monica. I edited video via Sergeant William Griffen, the video was recorded 10JAN2025, but not released until 12JAN2025:

U.S. Disaster 2025:USMC & Air Guard mobilized for California fires!

International, Technology, U.S.

NATO-Poland’s 1st F-35s arrive in Arkansas!

Video January 6, 2025 Hutchins AAron

“The arrival of Poland’s first F-35s is a significant milestone for our state, the nation, and our allies who will train on this fifth-generation fighter at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. I’m extremely proud of the whole team in the 188th Wing, and the staffs at Razorback Range and Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center for the planning and work that has resulted in the sound of freedom returning to the River Valley today. They’ve partnered with the active-duty Air Force to go from concept to jets being parked on the ramp in a compressed timeframe. We are thankful for the dedicated teamwork of those in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, our entire Congressional delegation, and state elected officials who have moved mountains to make this mission possible in Arkansas.”–Brigadier General Chad Bridges, Arkansas National Guard

Polish F-35A flybys, edited from videos via Airman First Class Miles Chrisman, of the Air National Guard’s 188th FW:

On 23DEC2024, a couple of ‘firsts’ took place; the first of several Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning-2 (named after the P-38 Lightning) for NATO-Poland were delivered, and secondly, the training for Polish pilots will take place on an Air National Guard base.

In July 2024, the United States Air Force (USAF) 85th Fighter Group (FG) was re-activated by the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW) specifically to train Polish pilots to fly the F-35A. The 85th FG will conduct the training on Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB), in Arkansas. When the 85th FG was deactivated, in 2006, its last assignment was in Iceland. The 85th FG is now part of the 33rd Fighter Wing (FW), which is part of the USAF’s Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

In May 2024, officials with the U.S. Foreign Military Sales, USAF and NATO-Poland, met on Ebbing ANGB, on Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Polish F-35A gets hosed, edited from videos via Airman First Class Miles Chrisman, Air National Guard 188th FW:

Ebbing ANGB is also home to Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing.

The decision to use Ebbing ANGB to train foreign pilots was made in 2023, after almost three years of comparing eligible air bases, both USAF and National Guard. Future F-35 training will include pilots from NATO-Finland, NATO-Germany, Singapore (one of several East Asian countries being wooed by NATO) and Switzerland (a NATO ‘partner’ but not a full member).

In November 2024, the USAF admitted it was all about supporting taxpayer subsidized Foreign Military Sales.

NATO-Belgium: First F-35A arrives in Arizona!

Technology, U.S.

F-89 Scorpion: 1950s Cold War interceptor still in use?

Video December 27, 2024 Hutchins AAron

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was developed after a 1945 U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) request for an all-weather, radar guided, twin jet powered bomber interceptor. The only competitor was the XP-87 (aka XF-87) Blackhawk, which was nixed for being too slow. The F-89 was first known as the N-24, as development progressed it was changed to XP-89, then to XF-89 when the Air Force become independent of the Army (after 1947).

Photo dated 26FEB1952, F-89 radar undergoing testing in freezing temperatures.

The F-89 entered service in 1950, but despite having advanced radar and turbines the production Scorpion was rapidly upgraded, from ‘A’ version to ‘J’ version by 1954. Some of the final upgrades included radar guided Falcon anti-aircraft missiles and Genie nuclear armed rockets (first tested during Operation Plumbbob in 1957).

Date/location not known, poor quality silent film of F-89s in flight and launching rockets from the wingtip pods:

Poor quality silent film of 1958 William Tell fighter/interceptor competition over Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. I edited the film to show only the F-89J, some are being loaded with the AIR-2 Genie (MB-1 Ding-Dong) nuclear rocket:

Quick silent film of F-89J launching Falcon missile over Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1958(?):

Scorpion was quickly retired from full-time active duty by 1961 (still serving in National Guard and Reserve units, at least until 1965).

Oregon Air National Guard F-89J Scorpion, November 1962.

Michigan Air National Guard F-89C ‘Gate Guard’.

Montana Air National Guard’s Scorpion ‘Gate Guard’.

Vermont Air National Guard promotional poster from January 2021.

In 2024, it was revealed that the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing was going to train its tactical aircraft maintenance personnel by having them rebuild a ‘mystery’ F-89 found on Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. Video interview by Airman First Class Kyle St. Pierre, recorded on 05DEC2024, released for public use on 19DEC2024:

Gate Guards: How to sling load your 1:1 scale F-80 Gate Guard with a CH-47.

International, Kit Bashing

Cold War Vehicle I-D: ‘Bombing-up’ your F-80 Shooting Star in Korea!

Video October 3, 2024 Hutchins AAron

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, developed at the end of World War Two.

In June 1950, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (north) invaded the Republic of Korea (south) in an attempt to unite the country (something that had been promised at the end of World War Two). The recently created United Nations essentially declared war and created the United Nations Command, invading Korea in September 1950. The United Nations Command still operates in South Korea, today.

Date and location not given, very likely to be Kimpo Air Base, 1950.

The F-80 had up to six Browning M3 .50 caliber (12.7mm x 99mm) machine guns.

General Purpose (GP) bombs.

I edited this silent USAF film (by H. E. Reid) showing the re-arming/re-fueling of F-80s on Kimpo, Korea, 19DEC1950:

Tiny Tim rocket and napalm bomb.

Filling up the ‘tip tank’.

Cold War Vehicle I-D:

Korea, date not known.

How to fuel & arm your USAF F-86 Sabre in Korea

Technology, U.S.

1st ever Beale AFB car-show!

Video May 25, 2024 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

On 18MAY2024, Beale Air Force Base, in California, hosted its inaugural car show.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

U.S. Air Force (USAF) officials claim more than 5-hundred vehicles were on display, and more than 8-thousand people showed up to look at them!

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

USAF video (by Staff Sergeant Frederick Brown), of course being on an air force base there are aircraft as well:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

USAF officials also claim that the car show was practice for a big air show scheduled in 2025.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shaei Rodriguez, 18MAY2024.

Promotional photo for the inaugural Beale AFB Auto Expo, made on 13MAR2024.

U.S. Veterans Day: A DECADE OF CARS & TRUCKS

Idaho

Great Power Competition: Idaho’s Garrison Forward “…accepts more risk deliberately.”

Video March 12, 2024 Hutchins AAron

12 March 2024 (12:43-UTC-07 Tango 06) 22 Esfand 1402/02 Ramadan 1445/03 Ding-Mao 4722/12 март 2024 года

For many years the U.S. National Security Affairs (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) have used the code phrase Great Power Competition to refer to World War Three. Since 2021, the People’s Republic of China has been considered to be the most likely adversary in the coming Great Power Competition.

“We are moving into a realm of operations that accepts more risk deliberately. It makes sense to condition our aircrew and support agencies into taking on non-standard operations and accepting more risk in a calculated manner.”-Major Gina Dickinson, 366th Operations Support Squadron director of operations

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Alexandria Byrd, 13FEB2024.

Taxiways are normally shorter and narrower than runways, and most taxiways are located near the parking area (apron, flightline, ramp) of other aircraft, making landing on them difficult and dangerous. The 366th Fighter Wing (FW) ‘Gunfighters’ practiced landing on the taxiway on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 13FEB2024. This is part of preparations by the United States Air Force (USAF) for the coming war with China, code phrase Great Power Competition.

USAF graphic released on 12FEB2024.

Landing two F-15E Strike Eagle (366th FW ‘Gunfighters’) on the taxiway of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 13FEB2024 (however the U.S. Air Force did not release the video until 05MAR2024), during phase one of wargame Garrison Forward:

“Garrison Forward brought together Gunfighters from every group to contribute to a common mission: making the 366th Fighter Wing more agile and survivable in a great power competition. Doing hard tasks during peacetime operations prepares our warfighters for potential future conflict. I’m so proud of the men and women of the 366th Fighter Wing coming together to codify our alternate landing surface operations. We will remain lethal anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance.”-Colonel David Stamps, 366th Operations Group commander

Great Power Competition, Utah: MOUNTAIN WEST MILITIA’S CODE PHRASE FOR 3RD WORLD WAR!

Oregon:

OREGON GETS NEW WEAPONS, SHOOTS-UP IDAHO? MORE PROOF THE U.S. MILITARY IS OWNED BY FOREIGNERS!

International, Technology, U.S.

Secret B-1B Lancer mission revealed!

Video February 4, 2024 Hutchins AAron

Dyess AFB, Texas, 01FEB2024. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern.

On 25JAN2024, B-1B bombers based on Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, were re-deployed to one of my old alma maters, Dyess AFB in Texas, in a ConUS-to-ConUS (Continental United States) mission. On 29JAN2024, local South Dakota news media were told it was to facilitate the investigation into the recent crash of a B-1B:

South Dakota Lancers onboard Dyess AFB, Texas, 01FEB2024. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Holly Cook.

In actuality, the South Dakota Lancers joined the Texas 7th Bomb Wing Lancers in the ‘First Tier’ strikes against targets in Syria and Iraq.

On 31JAN2024, JDAM bombs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) were prepped. USAF photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern.

U.S. Air Force video by Airman First Class Emma Anderson, released on 01FEB20204. Bombing-up the Lancer:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern, 01FEB2024.

Launching the secret mission, video by Airman First Class Emma Anderson, released on 01FEB20204:

Forever Wars: “STAY IN THE FIGHT!” ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD GENERAL UPDATES CASUALTY DATA IN JORDAN ATTACK.

Idaho, U.S.

Saylor Creek: USMC & Idaho Air Guard invades, preps JTAC for ‘Near Peer’ fight! With China?

Video June 2, 2023 Hutchins AAron

“This is a world-class range that is run very well. The units here in Idaho, along with the range, OCTC [Orchard Combat Training Center], and Mountain Home communities have taken care of us every time we’ve come up here. If we find ourselves in a jam, or need something or don’t know this procedure or that procedure, we get nothing but help here.”-Master Sergeant Daniel Haack, JTAC manager for 11th Marine Regiment, 1st MARDIV

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Dean Gurule, 17APR2023.

In April 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps launched operation (Exercise) Garnet Rattler, seizing the U.S. Air Force’s gunnery range known as Saylor Creek, in Southern Idaho.

USMC photo by Corporal Dean Gurule, 17APR2023.

The use of the word ‘garnet’ is appropriate because Idaho is officially known as The Gem State. Exercise Garnet Rattler is about training Joint Tactical Air Controllers (JTAC): “Garnet Rattler’s main objective is to take entry level joint terminal attack controllers, forward air controllers, air officers and joint fires observers, and put them in a live-fire environment that has a lot of maneuver flexibility, as well as aviation employment, in order to train realistic scenarios for their entry level controls in the fleet.”-Master Sergeant Daniel Haack, JTAC manager for 11th Marine Regiment, 1st MARDIV

U.S. Marine Corps video report by Corporal Dean Gurule, 29APR2023, note the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing/190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs in action, also, a Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) F-15E pilot admits it is all about “…the Air Force and Marines are starting look to the Pacific and preparations for the Near Peer fight…”:

The following USMC videos, recorded (between 10-29APR2023) by Corporal Dean Gurule and Lance Corporal Juan Torres, have been edited by me.

“Rotors comin’ in!”:

Mountain Home AFB F-15E Strike Eagle:

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Juan Torres, 26APR2023.

Machine guns & mortars:

Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 25APR2023.

Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing/190th Fighter Squadron’s A-10C Thunderbolt-2 (remember, the ‘woke’ USAF has been trying to get rid of this awesome aircraft):

Saylor Creek: IDAHO’S TACP/JTACs TRAIN WITH INFANTRY WEAPONS!

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Labor Shenanigans: Idaho home to 1st woke ‘Total Force’ recruiting office for the PNW!

Image May 28, 2023 Hutchins AAron

“The benefit of sharing and collaborating in this space with our active duty counterparts is the opportunities we can provide prospective recruits. If a ‘customer’ isn’t looking for something full-time, they have Guard recruiters at their disposal. If they’re looking to explore full-time opportunities, active duty recruiters are twenty feet away.”-Senior Master Sergeant Casey Bermensolo, Idaho Air National Guard Recruiting

Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.

The Pacific North West (PNW) of the United States has its first joint U.S. Air Force (USAF)/Air National Guard ‘Total Force’ recruiting center, in Meridian, Idaho.

Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.

The grand opening was on 02MAY2023. The Total Force Recruiting Office is jointly operated by the Idaho Air National Guard and the USAF’s 368th Recruiting Squadron based on Hill Air Force Base, in Utah.

Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.

The USAF hopes this is a way of addressing the collapsing recruiting numbers: “This is the toughest it’s been in a long time for both active duty and Air National Guard recruiting. The fact that we’re forging these relationships and building this infrastructure during these complicated times, I believe, ensures our success going forward.”-Captain Annie Driscoll, USAF 368th Recruiting Squadron

So far, only two other states have USAF/Air National Guard Total Force Recruiting Offices; Illinois and Georgia.

March 2023: NATO-GERMANY INVADES IDAHO?