{"id":24670,"date":"2020-06-01T20:23:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T20:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/06\/01\/hill-f-35s-deploy-to-middle-east-for-third-time-in-a-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:38:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:38:46","slug":"hill-f-35s-deploy-to-middle-east-for-third-time-in-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/06\/01\/hill-f-35s-deploy-to-middle-east-for-third-time-in-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Hill F-35s deploy to Middle East, for third time in a year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A squadron of F-35 fighters from the 388th and 419th fighter wings at Hill Air Force Base<\/a> in Utah deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base<\/a> in the United Arab Emirates on May 20, the 388th said in a release Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deployment of pilots from the 421st Fighter Squadron, as well as maintainers from the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, marks the third time in about 12 months that F-35s from Hill\u2019s 388th and 419th have deployed for combat in the Middle East<\/a>, the 388th said. There are 78 F-35s stationed at Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deploying airmen with the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings await transportation at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May, 19, 2020. Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings have deployed F-35As into combat three times in 12 months. (R. Nial Bradshaw\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The fighters\u2019 early-morning departure May 20 was noticed by several in the area around Hill, and the 388th acknowledged in a tweet it was their fighters, though the wing did not say at the time where they were headed. \u201cWe can say that we won\u2019t be taking off that early again anytime soon,\u201d the 388th said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 421st received its first F-35 in December 2018, and finished being stood up a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sending the 421st on its first deployment after its stand-up \u201cdemonstrates the readiness of our airmen, our weapons system, and the importance of both to the Air Force and our national defense mission,” 388th commander Col. Steven Behmer said in the release. “On top of that, add in prepping and training in this challenging coronavirus environment. As leaders, we couldn\u2019t be more proud of our airmen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t