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F-15E recovered after four years grounded
In a remarkable display of dedication and teamwork, the recovery and rebuild of aircraft 323, an F-15E Strike Eagle, has been a significant victory for the maintainers of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The aircraft has now returned to operational status after being grounded for more than four years.
As told by Senior Airman Alexandria Byrd, 366 Fighter Wing Public Affairs, in the article Gunfighter Maintenance Revives Fighter Jet, leading this effort is Master Sgt. Donald Root. Root is the lead Production Superintendent at the 391st Fighter Generation Squadron and has witnessed the aircraft’s journey from incident to recovery. The aircraft was non-flyable since the landing gear incident approximately 1,500 days ago. The incident triggered an immediate response and Master Sgt. Root led the crash recovery team as they approached the aircraft.
“We coordinated with the fire squadron to secure the area and ensure safety while we prepared to lift the aircraft off the runway,” Root explained. “It was a critical moment that marked the beginning of a long and challenging journey.”
The rebuild of F-15E 323 has been a monumental task. From the moment the aircraft was cleared for work, it has been a full team effort involving various Depot Field Teams and local maintenance shops.
Staff Sgt. Alex Torres, the lead floor supervisor and dedicated crew chief, worked hard to make the revival a reality. “My team and I coordinated closely with other shops, like fuels and sheet metal, to ensure a smooth workflow. It was essential to time our tasks right so that nothing obstructed progress,” Torres said.
The recovery of F-15E 323 after four years grounded
The rebuild faced numerous challenges, particularly with reinstalling the landing gear and addressing damage to critical components. The team had to fabricate custom parts, including bulkheads made from titanium, which had never been attempted at Mountain Home AFB before.
Technical difficulties further compounded the process, such as a damaged wire harness in the right-wing that required complete rewiring. Root emphasized the critical role of funding and scheduling in overcoming these hurdles. “Funding was a major factor that affected our timeline. We had to ensure everything was in place before moving forward with the rebuild.”
Despite these many challenges, F-15E 323 and the incredible maintenance team supporting the jet, have achieved a significant milestone. The aircraft recently underwent a rigorous series of qualifying tests and concluded with a successful test flight. Root expressed enthusiasm about finally seeing the jet in the air: “It was truly an amazing feeling to see 323 break ground. This milestone is a true testament to all the hard work and dedication from the men and women of the 366 Maintenance Group,” he said.
The recovery of F-15E Strike Eagle 323 serves as a testament to the resilience and commitment of the Gunfighter maintainers. Root emphasized the importance of restoring the aircraft not just as a machine, but as a vital asset to the Air Force. “Every aircraft tells a story, and the story of 323 is one of teamwork and determination,” he said. “We’re excited to see it back in the skies, ready for its mission.”
366th Fighter Wing
The 366th Fighter Wing is home to three fighter squadrons: the 389th Fighter Squadron, 391st Fighter Squadron and a Republic of Singapore 428th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-15SG. The wing has the firepower of more than 50 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The 726th Air Control Squadron detachment assigned here gives an air picture to the aircraft as they train. An active Air National Guard unit, the 266th Range Squadron, controls and maintains emitter sites within the 7,412-square mile operational training range located in southern Idaho.
Additionally, the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron, located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., is assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing. The squadron is responsible for suppression of enemy air defenses in support of expeditionary aircraft and ground troops by disrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence.
Mountain Home AFB and 366th Wing history
Mountain Home AFB and the 366th Wing have a rich history that stretches back more than 50 years to the United States’ entry into World War II. Although the wing itself was not activated until after World War II, it shares the World War II heritage of the 366th Operations Group, whose precursor organization, the 366th Fighter Group, stood up about the same time the base was being built. In early 1991, the Air Force announced that the 366th would become the Air Force’s premier “air intervention” composite wing. Over the next decade the wing operated with fighters, bombers and tankers.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the consolidation of the Air Force’s KC-135 and B-1 force led to the reallocation of the wing’s bombers and tankers to McConnell AFB, Kansas, and Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The wing was also home to F-16CJ Fighter Falcon aircraft from 1991 to March 2007. The F-16CJs left the base in another effort to consolidate from multiple airframes to one at Air Force installations across the country.
Photo credit: Airman Donovin Watson and Senior Airman Grace Turpin / U.S. Air Force
