Syracuse, NY--Leaders of the New York Air National Guard and the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing greet 174th unit members returning home to Hancock Field Air National Guard Base from Operation Iraqi Freedom on Tuesday, August5. The 174th unit members deployed in early June as part of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation. The wing's F-16C fighters flew air missions in support of ground troops.
This is the last deployment that the unit will be flying F-16s. The 174th is due to begin transitioning to the Reaper unmanned, armed aircraft later this year and is expected to be operational with the new unit in 2010.