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Whiteman, Barksdale fighter units return from deployment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Johnston
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Nearly 300 Citizen Airmen returned home from deployment here and to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on April 12.

The reservists, all part of the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman, and its subordinate unit, the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale, deployed in December 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The wing deployed the air expeditionary force package to include maintainers, operators and support personnel.

The 90-day deployment included A-10 Thunderbolt II employment in theater both at Bagram Air Base and Kandahar, Afghanistan. This is the wing's fifth mass deployment of aircraft and personnel since 9/11.

"I am so proud to be part of a wing who can employ combat power and defend great Americans," said Brig. Gen. Eric S. Overturf, 442nd Fighter Wing commander. "This wing provides all A-10 combat power in the Air Force Reserve, and these Citizen Airmen are dedicated to getting the job done."