Photo: Oregon Military Department
The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing has dropped live bombs for the first time with the F-15EX Eagle II during a training exercise in Nevada. The 142nd Wing operated its aircraft fleet out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for three weeks in late August and early September in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). During this time, the unit hit the historical milestone, dropping live bombs from operational F-15EX aircraft.
Based in Portland, Oregon, the 142nd Wing is the first operational F-15EX unit in the U.S. Air Force and has reached several milestones with this new aircraft. Dropping bombs is significant, as the wing has focused on Air-to-Air Combat since World War II. The 142nd previously flew the F-15C before receiving the Air Force’s first operational F-15EX model in June 2024.
“This milestone is another major step in our transition from an air-superiority organization to a truly multi-role air dominance force,” said Air Force Colonel Joshua Hovanas, 142nd Operations Group Commander. “What our Airmen accomplished at Nellis demonstrates the incredible capability of the F-15EX, but more importantly, it shows just how far this team has come and how quickly we’re building real combat capability for our nation.”
While supporting WIC at Nellis AFB, a leading U.S. Air Force fighter pilot exercise, Oregon pilots dropped 500-pound and 2,000-pound live bombs in the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. They also supported student pilots from other units during WIC training scenarios.
Source: Oregon Military Department