A F-15E weapons system officer with the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has achieved the rare feat of having 1,000 combat hours under his belt.
Lt. Col. Bash, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron weapons system officer and instructor, poses for a photo with an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft after returning from his 1,000 combat flying hour milestone sortie at undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2016. The 1,000 hour milestone, an equivalent to more than 40 days in combat, is lauded as a rare achievement, which some flyers never achieve. (U. S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin/Released)
Lt. Col. Bash, last name removed for security reasons, crossed the mark during his 177th combat mission on Apr. 9.
Fire engines from the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron render a water salute to a taxing F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2016. The water salute is used for to celebrate various achievements of aircrew personnel, aircraft and in this case, reaching the 1,000 combat flight hour milestone during a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin/Released)Lt. Col. Bash, top right, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron weapons system officer and instructor, prepares to disembark from a F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft after returning from a combat mission at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2016. Bash, a 14-year veteran of the F-15, flew his first combat mission from Al Uldeid in 2003 where he sortied over the deserts of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U. S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin/Released)Lt. Col. Bash, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron weapons system officer and instructor, is congratulated by Maj. Swat, 391st EFS WSO, on passing 1,000 combat flying hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2016. Bash achieved the milestone during the 177th combat mission of his career while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. (U. S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin/Released)
