Senior Airman William Davenport, a crew chief with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., cleans the bearings for F-16 Fighting Falcon wheels, July 29, while deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Crash Recovery, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.  All jet wheels and tires are assembled and inspected by Crash Recovery when they arrive at JBB before they are sent to be used on the F-16s. The 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire sent F-16's, pilots, maintenance specialists, and support personnel overseas for its first major combat operation since 2003, when the unit deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and flew more than 400 combat missions.  The 169 FW is now an "Active Associate" wing.  This unique agreement with the 20 FW at Shaw AFB embeds 150 active duty Airmen with the 169 FW at McEntire to forge an even stronger, more mobile force. Elements of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169 FW began this historic deployment in early May 2010 when airmen landed at JBB in support of OIF.
U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.dvidshub.net/image/305907">https://www.dvidshub.net/image/305907</a>