One of Hill Air Force Base's fighter squadrons will leave for the Middle East Wednesday, while another squadron will return soon - probably early Saturday.
More than 250 members of the 388th Fighter Wing, Fourth Fighter Squadron, are scheduled to leave early Wednesday for Saudi Arabia to help the United Nations patrol the "no fly zone" over southern Iraq. Members of the squadron, nicknamed the "Fuujins" will be stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and are expected to return about Jan. 17, 1998.Meanwhile, the 34th Fighter Squadron will return soon, probably early Saturday, a Hill spokeswoman told the Deseret News. The 421st Fighter Squadron returned in October.
In addition, about 100 members of the 729th Air Control Squadron have gone to the region and are expected to return to Hill in early January, said Sgt. James A. Rush.
"Everyone in the wing understands and accepts the importance of our continued pres-ence in the Middle East," said Col. Ron Fly, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing. "Operation Southern Watch further demonstrates the Air Force's ability to project air power to distant points across the globe."
Using air power, the wing is helping to enforce United Nations sanctions against Iraq.