Deployed Nighthawk visits Osan

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kevin Coffman
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  After being on the Korean Peninsula for almost two months, an F-117A Nighthawk, from the 49th Fighter Wing's Fighting Forty Niners based at Holloman AFB, N.M., made a stealth visit to Osan March 8. 

The visit was in part a show of the Nighthawk's capabilities and what the U.S. Air Force could bring to the fight if there was ever aggression toward the Republic of Korea. 

ROK Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Song, Young Mu, ROK Marine Corps commander Lt. Gen. Lee, Sang Ro and about 20 other ROK general officers and admirals visited Osan to get an up-close and personal view and tour of the F-117A Nighthawk. 

They were hosted by Lt. Gen. Stephen Wood, 7th Air Force commander, and Lt. Gen. Bae, Chang Sik, ROK Air Force Operations Command commander. 

They were given a tour of a U-2 Dragon Lady and Nighthawk, a mission briefing about the F-117A's warfighting abilities and educated about the unique capability of targeting high-value objectives while reducing collateral damage. 

"It's nice to be able to show our ROK allies what we can bring to the fight," said Maj. Ronald Rae, a pilot for the 9th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron's 'Flying Knights.' "To be able to show the unique capability of the Nighthawk is always a great way to show that any aggression toward the ROK will be met with swift, decisive and lethal action."

The Nighthawks are now starting to provide close air support to our allies on the ground so they can keep taking the fight to the aggressor. 

Major Rae is part of a standard Air Expeditionary Force rotation that makes its way to the peninsula every two years and will be at Kunsan for about four months. 

"It is great to be able to train in different environments here on the 'pen.' The terrain is much different than it is in New Mexico," said Major Rae. "The mountains are more sheer and the different practice ranges provide a different background than we are used to, and a change of scenery is always welcome." 

It also gives the maintainers a great experience to work in the different weather conditions here in Korea, and a chance to experience the great food, culture and other activities available to them, said Major Rae.