End of an era

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- The last two F-16CJs deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. prepare for their final launch April 12. Shaw personnel and aircraft are returning home after supporting Operation Northern Watch for the last several years. Operation Northern Watch flew its last operational mission March 17 after 12 successful years of enforcing the no-fly-zone over northern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Heading home

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- An F-16CJ Fighting Falcon pilot with the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prepares for his final takeoff from here. He and other airmen are returning home to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. after supporting Operation Northern Watch for several years. Aircraft flew their last ONW mission March 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Thompson)

Lock and Load

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Staff Sgt. Jeff Lease, left, who is deployed to here from the 35th Maintenance Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, and Senior Airman Ben Ramaekers, from the 18th Munitions Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, unload AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to complete the 555th Fighter Squadron’s F-16 Fighting Falcon munitions package. Specialists from numerous bases across the world deploy to Incirlik enhancing the 39th Maintenance Squadron munitions flight’s ability to maintain a constant store of munitions in support of Operation Northern Watch. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Star Struck

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- George Clooney (center) and Andy Garcia (far left) tour the 39th Operations Support Squadron’s radar approach control center at Incirlik on Dec. 7. Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and Brad Pitt, accompanied by producer Jerry Weintraub, and other Warner Bros. representatives, left Los Angeles for Turkey immediately following the U.S. premiere of their new movie Ocean’s 11. Considering the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and at the Pentagon, Weintraub contacted Armed Forces Entertainment and the United Services Organization and expressed his interest in bringing the cast to an overseas military base. (U.S. Air Force p;hoto by Airman 1st Class Tanaya Harms)

Eagle flight

FILE PHOTO -- An F-15 Eagle enforces the Northern no-fly zones over Northern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Mission complete

OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH -- An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron applies its speed brake upon touchdown after returning safely to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Jan. 14, following a routine enforcement mission in support of Operation Northern Watch. The Strike Eagle was part of a defensive strike on an Iraqi surface-to air-missile system in northern Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vincent Parker)