A flag detail of two Airmen and a Marine lower an American flag so a German flag can be raised during a ceremony, Jan. 5, 2011, at Lithuania Air Force Base. The flag ceremony symbolized the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron relinquishing the Baltic air policing mission to the German air force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch)
An F-15C Eagle from the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taxis before flying to its home station of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, upon finishing a rotation of NATO's Baltic air policing mission. The 493rd EFS assumed command of the mission from the Polish Sept. 1, 2010 and relinquished it to the German air force Jan. 5, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch)
by Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
1/10/2011 - LITHUANIA AIR FORCE AIR BASE, Lithuania (AFNS) -- The 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, United Kingdom, relinquished command of the NATO Baltic air policing mission to the German air force at Lithuania Air Force Air Base here Jan. 5.
The 493rd EFS, deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, assumed responsibility for Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian air sovereignty from the Polish air force Sept. 1, 2010.
During their deployment, the 493rd EFS accomplished 66 training sorties and two real-world sorties identifying three unknown aircraft.
"I am very pleased to mark the end of a successful deployment of the third Baltic air policing mission from the United States," said Anne Hall, the deputy chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania. "This is the third time that (the U.S. Air Force) and the second time the 493rd EFS has protected the Baltic air space."
"We have continued the legacy of uninterrupted protection of Baltic airspace, and we could not have done it alone," said Lt. Col. Skip Pribyl, the 493rd EFS commander, mentioning the support the Lithuanian air force provided the 493rd EFS.
"Our team of maintainers, operators, communicators and barrier maintainers has preserved the sovereign skies of the Baltic nations," Colonel Pribyl said. "This is our mission - this is what F-15Cs do."
Lithuanian air force Senior Master Sgt. Alvydas Tamosiunas, a specialist of foreign affairs, emphasized his appreciation for the 493rd EFS's commitment to the Baltic air policing mission.
"There is a saying, if you want peace, prepare for war," Sergeant Tamosiunas said. "We do not have the means to defend ourselves. That is why we ask NATO members to contribute fighters.
"The guys who came from (RAF) Lakenheath were perfect (in performing the Baltic air policing mission)," he continued. "It was great to work with them."
Along with performing the Baltic air policing mission, Airmen from the 493rd EFS also did a variety of community-outreach events ranging from visiting local orphanages to organizing sporting events with host-nation members and Lithuanian children.
"The Grim Reapers accomplished many great deeds," said Mrs. Hall, speaking about the community outreach. "By reaching out into the community, you helped spread American diplomacy. Thank you for sharing your values and our customs and what is the very best of America."
