Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific

Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific

By Dario Leone
Apr 20 2023
Share this article

“Kadena-based F-15C/D Eagles have ensured air superiority for decades to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” USAF Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander.

In recognition of the US Air Force (USAF) F-15 Eagle’s legacy, the 18th Wing hosted the Kadena Eagle Sunset Celebration, April 14-15. The event gathered F-15 pilots, intelligence professionals, maintainers, families, and others who directly contributed to the success of the F-15C/D the last 44 years.

As told by US Air Force Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters, 18th Wing Public Affairs, in the article Sun sets on Kadena’s F-15 Eagle, as part of its modernization plan, the Air Force is returning Kadena’s senior fleet of F-15C/D Eagle aircraft back to the US. The decision marks a significant milestone in the history of the base, which has hosted the venerable air superiority fighter since 1979.

Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific
Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, returns from a flight at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Apr. 17, 2023. As part of its modernization plan, the US Air Force is returning Kadena’s aging fleet of F-15C/D Eagle aircraft back to the US.

“Kadena-based F-15C/D Eagles have ensured air superiority for decades to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said USAF Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander. “We owe the many men and women, past and present, who have flown, maintained and supported the F-15 for their invaluable contributions toward peace and safety in the region.”

Wilsbach, the 18th Wing’s commander from 2009 to 2011, attended the celebration and flew with the wing to bid the F-15 farewell.

“Because of Kadena’s strategic location, we must maintain capabilities to address near-term threats while accelerating vital modernization efforts necessary for success in a high-end conflict,” said Wilsbach, who also flew F-15s as a captain at Kadena from 1993 to 1996.

Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific
Cindy Wilsbach, spouse of Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, welcomes her husband and Capt. James Armstrong, 67th Fighter Squadron Pilot, from a flight in an F-15D Eagle assigned to the 44th FS at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Apr. 17, 2023. 

“While we say farewell to a venerable aircraft that has rightfully earned its place among the greatest air-superiority fighters ever built, we look forward to introducing even more advanced capabilities to the region,” he said.

As the unit progresses through this transitory phase, the US Department of Defense will continue to maintain a continuous fighter presence in the region by temporarily deploying newer and more advanced aircraft to backfill the F-15s as they return to the US mainland.

Last month, F-35A Lightning II strike fighters belonging to the 355th Fighter Squadron, from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, arrived at Kadena Air Base followed on Apr. 8, by F-15E Strike Eagle fighter bombers from the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. According to Air & Space Force Magazine, that same day, F-22s Raptors and Airmen from the 525th Fighter Squadron assigned to Kadena headed home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. On April 10, F-16CMs from the 480th Fighter Wing returned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

F-15 model
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Save for the A-10, the Air Force has had every active type of fighter aircraft cycle through Kadena in the last five months: F-15C/Ds, F-15Es, F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s.

Modernizing capabilities in the Indo-Pacific theater remains a top priority, and the transition to more capable aircraft at Kadena exemplifies the DoD’s continued commitment to enhancing posture while building on the strong foundation of the Alliance with Japan.

“Pacific Air Forces’ commitment to regional deterrence and the defense of Japan remains ironclad,” Wilsbach said. “We’ve deployed Airmen and advanced combat fighters to Kadena from across the globe, ensuring no gaps in fighter coverage through this transition as we modernize our forces in the region.”

Photo credit: Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac / U.S. Air Force

36th TFW F-15C Print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-15C Eagle 36th TFW, 22d TFS, BT/79-051 / 1981

Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices