Final flight for Australians with deployed U.S. AWACS

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Flight Lieutenants Nathan Yabsley and Troy Roempke with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron proudly display the Australian flag here Dec. 24. They were preparing to fly their final mission with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing before heading home to Australia. They have been with the 965th out of Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. for three years with the last four months in a deployed location gaining valuable frontline experience. While deployed with the 965th Flight Lieutenants Yablsey and Roempke have flown 20 missions in the area of responsibility in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)(released)

Final flight for Australians with deployed U.S. AWACS

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Flight Lt. Troy Roempke with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron performs a checkout of his communications system on an E-3 sentry here Dec. 24. He was preparing to fly his final mission at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing before heading home to Australia. He has been with the 965th out of Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. for three years with the last four months in a deployed location gaining valuable frontline experience. While deployed with the 965th Flight Lieutenant Roempke has flown 20 missions in the area of responsibility in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell) (released)

Keeping 380th informed

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Todd Wireman from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing command post utilizes a checklist for an emergency here. The checklist is used during various emergency situations to ensure all procedures are followed and the first responders are contacted and given the most up-to-date information. Airman Wireman is deployed from the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., his hometown is Lima, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)(released)

Keeping 380th informed

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Todd Wireman from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing command post talks to a pilot here. He is using a TRC-176 UHF radio to keep in contact with the pilot. The information Airman Wireman receives gets passed onto different organizations, he alerts the first responders to prepare for the incoming aircraft if there was a malfunction. Airman Wireman is deployed from the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., his hometown is Lima, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)(released)

1,000 Hours

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Maj. John Merten, a member of the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, waits for the maintainers to prepare his U-2 Dragonlady for taxiing here Dec. 2. Maj. Merten passed 1,000 hours of flying in a U-2 during this mission. He is deployed from the 1st RS out of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., his hometown is Boulder, Colo.(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A Campbell)(released)

1,000 Hours

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Maj. John Merten, a member of the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, prepares to land following a successful U-2 mission in Southwest Asia. Maj. Merten passed 1,000 hours of flying in a U-2 during this mission. He is deployed from the 1st RS out of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., his hometown is Boulder, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A Campbell)(released)