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495th Fighter Squadron reactivated as F-35A unit

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The 48th Fighter Wing reactivated the 495th Fighter Squadron at exactly 8:49 and 50 seconds on Oct. 1. The 495th will be the first F-35A squadron for U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

U.S. Air Force Col. Sean Lowe, 48th Operations Group commander, passes the guidon of the 495th Fighter Squadron to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ian McLaughlin, incoming 495th FS commander, at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Oct. 1, 2021. Nicknamed the “Valkyries,” the 495th FS is scheduled to be fully mission capable next year with a total of 27 aircraft and 60 personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cedrique Oldaker)

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VP-10 host Manny Pacquiao

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Former boxing champion and current Senator of the Philippeins, Manny Pacquiao, flew on board a U.S. Navy P-8A for a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) mission recently.

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (Sept. 15, 2021) Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao poses with Supreme Court Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Director Kelia Cummings of the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and Combat Aircrew 7 of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 before a flight to demonstrate the maritime capabilities of the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon. VP-10, based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, is currently operating from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Julio Delgado.)

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41st Rescue Squadron retires its HH-60G

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The 41st Rescue Squadron officially retired its HH-60G rescue helicopter on Sept. 29. The unit will transition to the HH-60W Jolly Green II.

U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter tail No. 356 completes its final sortie at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2021. No. 356 has served for nearly 30 years at the 41st Rescue Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)

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