USAF’s 65th Aggressor Squadron Scheduled to be Deactivated
Story and Photos by Steven Valinski
August 10, 2014
According to a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal Article, the United States Air Force’s 65th Aggressor Squadron (65 AGRS), based out of Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada will be deactivated on September 26, 2014. The 65th AGRS currently flies McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles painted in various adversary camouflage paint schemes. The squadron consists of highly trained, skilled and experienced pilots whose role is to emulate the tactics of potential adversaries during exercises such as Red Flag.
According to the article, seven of the 65th AGRS’s F-15C’s (six plus one spare) will be temporarily transferred to the 64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS) until March of 2015. These aircraft will fly in any Red Flag exercises between now and then. The remaining aircraft will be allocated to various Air National Guard units.
Since some of the U.S.’s more serious threats fly Gen 5 aircraft, one can only hope that this leads to a shift to using Gen 5 aircraft as adversaries in the future. This is another significant cut to the United States defense forces that signifies the move towards leaner, but, arguably, more strategic, defenses. The 64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS) was vital to the training and preparedness of our pilots, and the pilots of our allied forces, that participated in the Red Flag exercises.
From a photography/enthusiast perspective, the wonderful paint schemes of the 64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS) F-15 Eagles will be missed. Not only did we appreciate the visual aspect of these aircraft, but we knew that the pilots of these aircraft were giving 110% in an effort to better prepare pilots from various branches of the U.S. Military and allied military forces.
As for now, I would like to thank the pilots, maintainers and other crew members of the 65th Aggressor Squadron for the important, and valuable, service they provided for the United States and our allies.
Steven’s interest in photography began when he was 16 years old when he received his first SLR camera, a Minolta XGA. It makes sense that eventually his passion for aviation and photography would merge into a love for aviation photography.
In addition to being the web designer, webmaster and chief editor of Aviation Photography Digest, Steven has been published in numerous magazines worldwide.
Steven has an M.S. from Boston University and uses Nikon photographic equipment.
Steven is a Nikon NPS member.
Steven can be reached at: [email protected]