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386th NEWS

Iraqi Air Force Celebrates 87 years

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

The Iraqi Air Force, celebrated 87 years of history with an anniversary ceremony and aerial demonstration April 24.

The ceremony consisted of statements by key leadership, including Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amin, commander of the Iraqi air force, and flyovers of select Iraqi Air Force aircraft, including the U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules.

"Your generals, your people, your technicians, your pilots, the base did a nice job with the demo," said Brig. Gen. Craig Wills, Deputy Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq to Amin during a meeting after the ceremony. "You must be really proud."

 

Iraqi citizens are full of pride based after recent operations of the Iraqi Air Forces that saved many lives and liberated their cities from ISIS, said Iraqi Air Force Brig. Gen. Husni Khazaal Al maliki, Al Muthana Technical Wing commander.

 

“The (Iraqi) Air Force was very important in winning the war,” said Al maliki to his airmen during their celebration and remembering their successes over ISIS. “When we dream, we must catch it in both hands to make it (come true). That happens when we do our job the right way.”

In December of 2017, Iraq officially declared victory over Daesh. The recent Iraqi led airstrikes show the capability of a strong, professional air force.

“This (celebration) is very significant based on what they have accomplished over the last three years,” said Col. James Howard, 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander.  “They saw quite a decrement there in about 2014 as ISIS came back through.”

The Iraqi Air Force was originally established on April 22, 1931, when Iraq fell under British occupation. In 2003, the U.S. Air Force utilized key Iraqi Air Force installations, including Balad Air Base as a logistics transportation center for coalition forces in Iraq. By November of 2011, they became home of the Iraqi Air Force’s premier F-16 squadron, receiving its first aircraft on July 13, 2015.

“After 2003, the westernizing of the Iraqi Air Force has helped us make a big jump, and I am really proud of being in the Air Force,” said an Iraqi F-16 pilot, who participated in the ceremony. “Before 2003, when people looked at the Iraqi Air Force, they only saw planes flying over the country. But now when they see us, it gives them motivation.”

The Iraqi pilot said the partnership with the United State went a long way in the modernization of their air force and gave them the ability to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

“I am very thankful for the training the U.S. Air Force has provided me, both in the U.S. and from the instructor pilots, which came here to Iraq,” said the Iraqi pilot.

He continued by saying that continued training through the Coalition Aviation Advisory & Training Team directly advanced the flying of the F-16s, as well as ground and maintenance operations.

“The proudest thing I think we see here, is that young Iraqi airmen are really grasping on and seeing their capabilities improve,” Howard said about the modern Iraq. “The professionals in both the older and younger generations, see opportunities in their future and you can see a true budding of a national spirit.”

Al maliki is proud of the important roll the Iraqi Air Force has played in their armed forces.

“It started from the beginning when the army was created here,” said Husni. “I remember the war between Iraq and Iran. At that time Iran had the fifth largest army in the world but we were able to beat them because the sky belonged to Iraqi pilots.”

Even during the celebration, the Iraqi Air Force pilots showcased their proficiencies, demonstrating their continued growth as a nation.

In the weight of recent operations in Iraq against ISIS, and the transition to an increased U.S. advisory mission, Howard highlighted what an honor it was for U.S. Air Force personnel to attend the ceremony.

“To be invited to this type of assembly is such a big cultural event for them across their military,” said Howard. “For us to be a part of that, solidifies the relationships we are building are productive and that they value it as much as we do.”