Gallery
21 May 2016 - the HC-130J carrying the flag sits on the ground at Erbil International Airport. Since 2014, ISIS had controlled territory within 25 miles of Erbil.
1 June 2016: This was taken in the boom operators compartment during the flag’s KC-135R flight. The crew is refuelling a B-52 deployed to Al-Udeid Air Base, which arrived from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana on April 9th to support Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
1 June 2016 - the KC-135R crew with the flag back on the ground at Incirlik Air Base.
21 May 2019: The flag pictured with our Korean allies at Suwon Air Base following a flight on the venerable F-4 Phantom. The 153 FS was one of the last F-4 squadrons in the world. It shut down in June 2024, and otherwise only Iran, Turkey and Greece still fly them. Pictured L to R: 153d Fighter Squadron commander, the US airfield manager, US detachment commander (me), the weapons system officer, the pilot, and the Korean US liaison officer. Katchi Kapshida!
13 March 2019 - in flight on a US Army C-12U from Osan to Gimhae Air Base during Exercise DRAGON LIFT, an aeromedical evacuation exercise.
13 March 2019: The C-12U sitting on the ground at Osan Air Base.
13 March 2019 - also during the DRAGON LIFT exercise, the ROKAF C-130 on the ground at Osan after flying from Gangneung Air Base.
12 May 2018: The B-17 that took up the flag in Oklahoma City. Although it’s the only warbird on this site not in “active service”, there’s no way I wouldn’t include it in this list. The Madras Maiden is still flying as of 2024, though it has been re-named “Ye Olde Pub” and memorializes the plane from the Brown-Stigler incident.
12 May 2018 - the B-17 cockpit in-flight. As of the start of 2023, there are only 6 remaining airworthy B-17s.