Twelve F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft are currently based at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, for a six-month deployment to Europe.
The 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, from Jacksonsville, Florida, leads the first ANG TSP (theater security package) to deploy in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the second such TSPs in Europe (12 A-10 of the Air Force TSP deployed to several airbases across eastern Europe beginning last month).
The F-15s and personnel taking part in this TSP are based out of units in Florida, Oregon, California, Massachusetts and various bases throughout Europe and they are grouped, regardless of their origin, in the 159th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
They will attend Frisian Flag exercise, due to start on Apr. 13, then, as done by the USAF A-10s, they will head east, to Bulgaria, where they will conduct training alongside other NATO allies and show U.S. support to local allies.
The images in this post were taken on Apr. 5, by photographer Marco Ferrageau, at Leeuwarden airbase, as the Eagles launched for their first missions over Europe.
Image credit: Marco Ferrageau