{"id":32326,"date":"2020-10-27T19:39:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T19:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/27\/hill-f-35s-return-from-middle-east\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:21:13","slug":"hill-f-35s-return-from-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/10\/27\/hill-f-35s-return-from-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Hill F-35s return from Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighters from Hill Air Force Base has returned from a five-month deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, the Air Force said in a release Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expeditionary 421st Fighter Squadron, made up of airmen and fighters from Hill\u2019s active-duty 388th and Reserve 419th fighter wings, deployed to Al Dhafra on May 20, along with maintainers from the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It marked the third time Hill F-35s had deployed for combat in the Middle East in about 16 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hundreds of Airmen from the 421st Fighter Squadron return to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 25, 2020, following a six-month deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The deployment included Airmen from the active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings. While deployed, the 421st FS employed the F-35A in close air support missions, performed offensive and defensive counter-air, and enable regional deterrence by participating in joint exercises with national partners in the MIddle East. (R. Nial Bradshaw\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The squadron\u2019s pilots and F-35s returned on Friday, and the remaining hundreds of airmen from the squadron followed on Sunday, photographs posted by Hill showed. The airmen will quarantine for two weeks in case any have contracted the coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the deployment, the Air Force said, the 421st used the F-35 to conduct close air support missions, offensive and defensive counter-air missions, and joint exercises with partners in the Middle East to enable “regional deterrence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t