47th Fighter Squadron will participate in exercise RIMPAC 2012

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

The 47th Fighter Squadron, 917th Fighter Group (AFRC), Barksdale, Louisiana, will participate in exercise RIMPAC 2012 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. I got first notification about that very important news late this afternoon from my Dutch contributor Piet Luijken.

A related official photo caption on Barksdale's public website only states: 7/6/2012 - KC-10A Extender aircrew members prepare to transport A-10 Thunderbolt II aircrew from the 917th Fighter Group to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from Barksdale AFB, La., July 6. The A-10 aircrew are participating in an upcoming exercise at Hickam. The aircraft can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles unrefueled. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.) KC-10A on Barksdale Unfortunately, the picture is currently not available - maybe due to a general problem on USAF websites.

In a message to my Facebook page, Piet told me: Barksdale 47th FS is deploying to Hickam AFB with ten (planned ) A-10s , HI for two weeks for exercise RIMPAC 2012. [...] Aircraft included and seen at D-M at 5 july 2012 were 78-0582, 79-0090 and 79-0152.

According to a media advisory, released by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs Office on June 26, 2012, the exercise is scheduled to begin June 29 and conclude Aug. 3. The U.S. Navy's biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise is the world's largest international maritime exercise. Participating in RIMPAC 2012 are U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft, as well as aircraft from some of the other 21 participating nations.

See also:
RIMPAC 2012

Please note: This breaking news will be updated later this evening.