By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published May 24, 2017
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears conducted his fini flight out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. Sears, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours, including combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, conducts pre-flight checks prior to his fini flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. The fini flight is a time-honored military aviation tradition marking the last flight of a commander's tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, conducts pre-flight checks prior to his fini flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. During the flight, Sears patrolled the skies with his wingman, engaging enemy ground forces from above to support coalition and Afghan troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Senior Airman Heather Deines, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, assists Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, prior to his fini flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. The fini flight is a time-honored military aviation tradition marking the last flight of a commander's tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, prepares for takeoff prior to conducting his fini flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. During the flight, Sears patrolled the skies with his wingman, engaging enemy ground forces from above to support coalition and Afghan troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Senior Airman Heather Deines, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals an F-16 Fighting Falcon, piloted by Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, conducted his final flight out of Bagram Airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
An F-16 Fighting Falcon, piloted by Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, takes off from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. Sears has served as the commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing for the last 12 months and will soon depart Afghanistan to continue his Air Force career. During the flight, Sears patrolled the skies with his wingman, engaging enemy ground forces from above to support coalition and Afghan troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, wrestles a fire hose away from Chief Master Sgt. Peter Speen, command chief of the 455th AEW, after completing his fini flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. Sears, who commanded the 455th AEW for the last 12 months, is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours, including combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Chief Master Sgt. Peter Speen, command chief of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, hoses down Brig. Gen. Jim Sears at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. Sears, commander of the 455th AEW, conducted his fini flight out of Bagram Airfield. The fini flight is a time-honored military aviation tradition marking the last flight of a commander's tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)
Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, conducted his fini flight out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 22, 2017. During the flight, Sears patrolled the skies with his wingman, engaging enemy ground forces from above to support coalition and Afghan troops. Sears is a decorated pilot, flying in the C-130E Hercules, T-3A Firefly, T-38C Talon and F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)