Tinker pilot guides E-3 to combat air mission

Capt. Jeff Lown, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft pilot with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, steers an E-3 down the runway at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia en route to a combat air mission Feb. 16, 2010. Captain Lown is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Airmen fly E-3 Sentry on combat air mission

Aircrew Airmen guide an E-3 Sentry into the air for a deployed air mission during operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. The crew is from the 965th Expeditionary Aircraft Airborne Air Control Squadron -- part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Their home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker captain, Austin native, serves as air surveillance officer on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Capt. Amanda Young, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft air surveillance officer with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, flies on a deployed E-3 air mission in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Captain Young is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and her hometown is Austin, Texas. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker captain, Bethlehem native, serves as air weapons officer on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Capt. Samuel Lawrence, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft air weapons officer with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, flies on a deployed E-3 air mission in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Captain Lawrence is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Bethlehem, Penn. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker first lieutenant, Clovis native, pilots AWACS combat missions in Southwest Asia

First Lt. Anthony Dorazio, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft co-pilot, flies an E-3 Sentry on a combat air mission during operations over the Persian Gulf in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. He is deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Aircraft Airborne Air Control Squadron -- part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. His home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Clovis, N.M. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker first lieutenant, E-3 navigator, flies combat missions in Southwest Asia

First Lt. Bradley Bentlage, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft navigator with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, works the navigation console of an E-3 while on a combat air mission Feb. 16, 2010. Lieutenant Bentlage is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker master sergeant, Winston native, supervises radar ops on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Master Sgt. Dustin Rayl, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft senior surveillance technician with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, flies on a deployed E-3 air mission in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Sergeant Rayl is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Winston, Ore. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker pilot guides E-3 on combat air mission

Capt. Jeff Lown, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft pilot with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, flies an E-3 on a combat air mission over the Persian Gulf on Feb. 16, 2010. Captain Lown is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Airmen fly E-3 Sentry on combat air mission

First Lt. Anthony Dorazio, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft co-pilot, and Staff Sgt. Abel Carrillo, flight engineer, fly an E-3 Sentry on a combat air mission during operations over the Persian Gulf in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Both Airmen are deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Aircraft Airborne Air Control Squadron -- part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Their home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Lieutenant Dorazio's hometown is Clovis, N.M., and Sergeant Carrillo's hometown is San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker first lieutenant, Clovis native, pilots AWACS combat missions in Southwest Asia

First Lt. Anthony Dorazio, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft co-pilot, prepares an E-3 Sentry for a combat air mission during operations in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. He is deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Aircraft Airborne Air Control Squadron -- part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. His home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Clovis, N.M. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker senior airman performs a systems check on a deployed air mission

Senior Airman Joshua Slinkard, an E-3 Sentry aircrew member, does a systems check on an E-3 while the plane is in flight for a mission Feb. 16, 2010. Airman Slinkard and the E-3 he's flying on is deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

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Tinker senior airman, Indianapolis native, maintains radar ops on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Senior Airman Jerrome Kamish, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft airborne radar technician with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, flies on a deployed E-3 air mission in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Airman Williams is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Indianapolis, Ind. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Phantom Sentry

A flight crew member carries items into an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft that is shrouded by fog on the flightline of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing prior to a mission at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. The E-3, which is assigned to the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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This way sir!

A maintenance Airman assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Sentry aircraft maintenance unit signals to an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft pilot to turn while the E-3 was moving out for a mission on Feb. 16, 2010, at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker airman first class, North Hollywood native, flies on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Airman 1st Class Keith Williams, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft air surveillance technician with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, flies on a deployed E-3 air mission in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Airman Williams is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is North Hollywood, Calif. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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From the window of an E-3 Sentry: Combat AWACS mission in Southwest Asia

Through the window of an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, the landscape of a non-disclosed location in Southwest Asia is shown as the E-3 gains altitude during a combat air mission Feb. 16, 2010. The E-3 is assigned to the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The airplane is deployed to the region from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Airmen prepare E-3 Sentry for deployed air mission

First Lt. Anthony Dorazio, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft co-pilot, and Staff Sgt. Abel Carrillo, flight engineer, fly an E-3 Sentry on a combat air mission during operations over the Persian Gulf in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010. Both Airmen are deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Aircraft Airborne Air Control Squadron -- part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Their home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Lieutenant Dorazio's hometown is Clovis, N.M., and Sergeant Carrillo's hometown is San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Tinker staff sergeant, San Antonio native, works as E-3 flight engineer on combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Staff Sgt. Abel Carrillo, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft flight engineer with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, works the flight engineer console of an E-3 while on a combat air mission Feb. 16, 2010. Sergeant Carrillo is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

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Photo essay: E-3 Sentry crew embarks on Southwest Asia air mission

Published Feb. 26, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Crew members with an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft assigned to the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron flew an air mission from their non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Feb. 16, 2010.

This photo essay highlights some of the scenes from that mission. The 965th EAACS is part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing which supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

In 2009, E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft assigned to the 380th AEW flew more than 370 combat missions, handling more than 22,000 aircraft through their airborne command and control mission. The AWACS planes also supported nearly 1,000 "troops in contact" support efforts directly aiding to command and control support to troops on the ground.

All of the E-3 Sentry aircraft deployed to the 380th AEW are from the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

380AEW Article

Tinker pilot guides E-3 to combat air mission

Airmen fly E-3 Sentry on combat air mission

Tinker captain, Austin native, serves as air surveillance officer on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker captain, Bethlehem native, serves as air weapons officer on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker first lieutenant, Clovis native, pilots AWACS combat missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker first lieutenant, E-3 navigator, flies combat missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker master sergeant, Winston native, supervises radar ops on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker pilot guides E-3 on combat air mission

Airmen fly E-3 Sentry on combat air mission

Tinker first lieutenant, Clovis native, pilots AWACS combat missions in Southwest Asia

Tinker senior airman performs a systems check on a deployed air mission

Tinker senior airman, Indianapolis native, maintains radar ops on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

Phantom Sentry

This way sir!

Tinker airman first class, North Hollywood native, flies on AWACS combat air missions in Southwest Asia

From the window of an E-3 Sentry: Combat AWACS mission in Southwest Asia

Airmen prepare E-3 Sentry for deployed air mission

Tinker staff sergeant, San Antonio native, works as E-3 flight engineer on combat air missions in Southwest Asia