In the News (101)
Father returns from deployment, meets daughter for first time
Written by Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes
He was anxious; excited actually. He gazed at the crowd across the tarmac looking for someone familiar, his wife, and someone he had never met, his baby girl. He had seen the baby only through photos and webcam.
Then, he found them. He looked at his now four-month-old baby for the first time in person, and she smiled at him.
"Seeing her for the first time, I don't know how to describe it," said 1st Lt. William Whiddon, the 510th Fighter Squadron intelligence officer in charge. "I've seen her on the video and pictures but it's not the same as holding her, seeing her personality and facial expressions."
Weapons loading competition hones Airmen's skills
Written by Airman 1st Class Justin Goodrich Munitions loaders around the Air Force test their war fighting capabilities and promote camaraderie through load crew competitions.
Recently, two teams from the 555th and 510th Fighter Squadrons here used teamwork and the communication skills involved with a weapons load to prove their abilities.
ZVOLEN, Slovakia (AFNS) -- Airmen from Aviano's 31st Fighter Wing have joined other allied forces for Cooperative Chance '98, a NATO "Partnership for Peace" training exercise being held here July 5-10.
Cooperative Chance involves more than 900 military service members and 30 aircraft from eight NATO countries and 12 other Partnership for Peace nations. Participants include Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Moldavia, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Slovakia.
2002 - Maple Flag '02 Boasts International Cast of Airmen
Written by Master Sgt. Keith ReedCOLD LAKE, Alberta (AFPN) -- An international cast of airmen is taking part in Maple Flag 2002, a huge air combat exercise sometimes called the “Red Flag” of the north.
Aviano Fighter Squadrons compete during deployed "Turkey Drop"
Written by 1st Lt. Skylar HesterThe 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons held an annual spring Turkey Shoot contest during their Spain deployments.
The contest involved all the pilots in the 510th FS (Buzzards) and 555th (The Nickel) in a competition to drop the most accurate bombs on a practice range.
Airmen from the 510th Fighter Squadron, the "Buzzards," deployed to Afghanistan recently in support of overseas contingency operations bringing with them new technological capabilities.
"This is the first combat deployment for the 510th Fighter Squadron since returning from Iraq in the summer of 2007," said Lt. Col. Greg Sarakatsannis, 510th FS commander. "It also marks the first combat deployment of Common Configuration Implementation Program modified F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing."
27 Mar 1998
The 510th Fighter Squadron's mascot, "Buzz", was safely returned to his perch in BUZZARD Loop early Thursday morning after a feather-raising night. The infamous mascot was swiped by ruthless thugs from another squadron, who shall remain nameless (from the Operations Group, not the 555th, or 603rd), during the Airman Leadership School graduation Wednesday night at Sabre Hall.
The 510th Fighter Squadron was originally constituted as the 625th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 4 February 1943. It was activated on 1 Mar 1943 at Drew Field, FL, and assigned to the 405th Bombardment (later, 405th Fighter-Bomber; 405th Fighter) Group. It was redesignated as the 510th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 10 August 1943; as the 510th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 August 1943; and as the 510th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 30 May 1944. In late 1943, the squadron moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina where it began to fly the were the Douglas A-24 Banshee (1943), then the Bell P-39 Airacobra (1943) and finally the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943-1945).
Buzzards Nab SecDef Maintenance Award
Written by Tech. Sgt. Bertha BeltonAVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (USAFENS) – After winning the Air Force maintenance effectiveness award earlier this year, the 510th Fighter Squadron here has done it again, this time garnering the 2002 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award in the small category.
This award is presented annually to units that best demonstrate the ability to maintain their aircraft and use their resources effectively.
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (Vigileer) – There has always been competition and rivalry amongst fighter squadrons. This rivalry is one of the things that drives and motivates us – that which instills pride in our remarkable people and our phenomenal unit.
Fighter pilots are inherently competitive, and the squadrons that stand on the shoulders of these warriors and the soldiers that support them are full of enthusiasm for their duty and pride in their work.
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510th “Buzzards” take the 555th to School
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (Vigileer) – The 510th and 555th fighter squadrons held an annual spring Turkey Shoot contest During their Spain deployments. The contest involves all the pilots in the 510th and 555th in a competition to drop the most accurate bombs on a practice range. Scores are based on how close the bomb hits to a target. These are dumb bombs dropped visually, without aid from GPS or a targeting pod. The contest is designed to pit raw pilot skill and natural ability against a target on the ground. The competition is a great way to motivate pilots to enhance their war-fighting capabilities; and of course squadron pride is on the line!
Aviano Fighters Compete During Deployed "Turkey Drop"
Written by David SarvaiJune 20, 2003
By 1st Lt. Skylar Hester
510th Fighter Squadron
The 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons held an annual spring Turkey Shoot contest during their Spain deployments.
The contest involved all the pilots in the 510th FS (Buzzards) and 555th (The Nickel) in a competition to drop the most accurate bombs on a practice range.
by Maj. Dave Honchul
U.S. Central Command Air Forces-Forward Public Affairs
2/27/2004 - AL ASAD AIR FIELD, Iraq (AFPN) -- Airpower was put on display as a part of a show of force demonstration here during a joint capabilities exercise Feb. 24.
Operation All-American Lightning, a joint Army-Air Force operation, was designed to demonstrate joint U.S. capabilities for rapid deployment and employment of forces worldwide to support the war on terrorism, said 82nd Airborne Division officials
12/29/2003 - AR RAMADI, Iraq (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron dropped two Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs on an enemy safe house near here Dec. 27.
OPERATION STOCKING STUFFER was launched to destroy an abandoned two-story house known to be a launching pad for attacks against coalition forces, according to a U.S. Central Command release. The house had been used on six different occasions to attack coalition forces and is located about two miles northwest of Khalidiyah.
