Aircrew head downrange to support OEF

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affiars
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The 4th Fighter Wing hailed farewell to several aircrew members including pilots, weapon systems officers (WSO), maintenance crew members and support staff, as they left to join the 335th Fighter Squadron package on a deployment to Southwest Asia, Sept. 14.

The group of pilots, WSOs and aircrew members will join more than 300 Seymour Johnson Airmen as part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, said Lt. Col David Moeller, 335th Fighter Squadron commander.

"I'm honored to be leading the 335th FS on this Air Expeditionary Force deployment," Moeller said. "The 4th Fighter Wing has done an excellent job in preparing and supporting this deployment."

As the Airmen geared up for their journey, family members also came out to show their support, reiterating the message that the base and the community are behind them 100 percent.

"I'm just really proud of my daughter, but I can't wait until she comes home," said Robynne Alexander, mother of Capt. Melissa Smith, a WSO with the 335th Fighter Squadron from Pittsburgh. "I know she is going there to protect us."

The 335th FS along with elements of the 4th Medical Group, 4th Mission Support Group, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the Explosive Ordinance flight will provide support to the more than 70,000 fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in Afghanistan. A seemingly daunting task, the Airmen are more than ready to take on the heavy mission. Capt. Nick Eberling, an F-15E pilot with the 335th FS said that although it is tough to leave his wife, Amy, he is ready to take on the mission at hand.

"This is what we have to do," Eberling said. "I'm a Strike Eagle pilot and I know that through our training, we are all well prepared to do our jobs."

While the 335th FS completes their six-month expeditionary rotation, a first for the squadron as a whole, families back on the home front plan on staying busy and 'holding down the fort' so that their Airmen can focus on the mission.

"I am prior military, so I pretty much know the drill," said Jennifer Mitchell, wife of Capt. David Mitchell, a pilot with the 335th FS. "I'm so proud of him and my kids are also. We explain to my son Jacob that Daddy is going to protect us from the bad guys and he understands why he has to leave."