F-16 gets a facelift

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Russell, 31st Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance corrosion control, sands a fast-acting speed brake prior to repainting an F-16 Fighting Falcon.The 31st MXS unveiled Aviano's first locally-painted F-16 during a ribbon cutting of the new Corrosion Control Facility Oct. 19 located on Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Courtesy Photo)

F-16 gets a facelift

An F-16 Fighting Falcon is prepped for stenciling during a repaint in the new Corrosion Control Facility at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The new facility allows personnel assigned to the aircraft structural maintenance corrosion control section the ability to conduct all aspects of corrosion control and treatment, to include sanding, media blasting, priming and painting and stenciling an entire F-16. (Courtesy Photo)

Legendary ace returns to Triple Nickel

Retired Brig. Gen. R. Steve Ritchie, the last Air Force pilot to earn the title of ace, poses in front of an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy Aug. 28. Ritchie became an ace while assigned ot the then 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron following his fifth aerial victory in Aug. 28, 1972 while supporting operations in Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)

Heavy Airlift Wing

A C-17 Globemaster III prepares for take off at Papa Air Base, Hungary July 27. Papa AB is the home of Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) operational unit of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) program which is designed to fulfill the strategic airlift requirements of the following nations; Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands and USA and two Partnership for Peace (PFP) nations, Sweden and Finland. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)

31st FW nears 60th Anniversary of pioneering operation

Three 91st Air Refueling Squadron KB-29Ps prepare to refuel the F-84Gs of the 31st Fighter Escort Wing during Operation Fox Peter One. The operation led to the wing receiving its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. (courtesy photo)

31st FW nears 60th Anniversary of pioneering operation

High over West Texas, two F-84Gs assigned to the 31st Fighter Escort Wing pull in behind a waiting KB-29P during Operation Fox Peter One. This was the first operation were aircraft flew across the Pacific Ocean, as opposed to being shipped. (courtesy photo)