63rd Fighter Squadron wraps up Balikatan '09

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • Thunderbolt staff writer
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  With only days before the deactivation of a fighter squadron here that contributed so much to the success of the 56th Pursuit Group, now the 56th Fighter Wing, the unit's participation in one last deployment helped culminate more than 60 years of its existence. 

Airmen of the 63rd Fighter Squadron made one of their final marks in history April 7 through 30, after participating in Exercise Balikatan '09 in the Philippines, an effort that Lt. Col. Jack Maixner, 63rd FS commander, calls a success. 

"We flew close air support training missions with Marine Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and Filipino ground and airborne forward air controllers," he said. "The language barrier was a factor but was overcome due to common tactics and prodedures." 

Working with Philippine air force forward air controllers in close air support scenarios was important because of the bi-lateral efforts beneficial to both countries, Colonel Maixner noted. 

While the squadron was able to get all six of their F-16 Fighting Falcons to Clark Air Base, Philippines, for the exercise in the central Luzon Province, there were some unseen issues they had to tackle. 

"We re-learned that logistics is the key to any operation," Colonel Maixner said. "This is a new deployment location for our Air Force and we had a lot of difficulties getting aircraft parts. If I had it to do over, I would anticipate the supply issues and ensure sufficient parts flow to support the mission." 

Maj. James West, 63rd FS instructor pilot, said the information they were able to provide the Filipino airmen was well received. 

"I think one of the most rewarding things was the interaction with the Philippine air force and being able to give and exchange information with them in an academic environment," Major West said. "To see them process the information we provided and apply what they briefed in action was rewarding. All the guys that flew with them were impressed with their controlling in the air." 

While in the Philippines, the 70-Airmen team from Luke Air Force Base also participated in non-flying programs. 

"In addition to the flying we accomplished human relations events and were able to help Filipino children," Colonel Maixner said. 

Prior to the deployment members of the 63rd and 310th Fighter Squadrons were able to gather an estimated $2,000 in sports equipments and school supplies which were handed out at an orphanage and a community center. 

"For a lot of the folks that went, including the pilots and maintainers, it was a lifetime experience to go half-way around the world as a team and operate in a new environment," Colonel Maixner said. "I think everybody learned something about the Filipino culture; the poverty level and associated problems were an eye opener for a lot of people. We also learned that we have a lot in common with the Filipino forces. We share the same objectives, goals and values." 

Given the fact that the squadron is deactivating, Colonel Maixner thought the deployment was a great way to wrap things up. 

"It was nice to have one last opportunity for our people to excel," he said. 

The Balikatan deployment also included pilots and operations personnel from the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 310th Fighter Squadron and 56th Operations Support Squadron; maintenance personnel from the 63rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 56th Component Maintenance Squadron and 56th Maintenance Operations Squadron; and medical personnel from the 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.