Red Flag concludes Published Feb. 19, 2008 By Senior Airman Oleksandra Manko Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- About 1,500 people, 16 units, and 55 aircraft from several countries successfully completed Red Flag 08-2, a two-week-long large-scale flying exercise conducted by the United States Air Force Warfare Center, Feb. 4-15 here. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving U.S. and allied forces, and is designed to provide pilots their first 10 combat missions during the two-week exercise. Past conflicts have proven that after pilots complete their first 10 missions, their chance of survival increases dramatically, said Lt. Col. Mike Caudle, 414th Combat Training Squadron director of operations. Major U.S. participants included B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale AFB, La., F-22 Raptors from Langley AFB, Va., and F-15E Strike Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. The Navy participated with EA-6B Prowlers. Royal Saudi air force F-15S's took part in the exercise as well. Conducted over the Nevada Test and Training Range, consisting of 15,000 square miles of airspace located north of Las Vegas, Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the USAFWC. Upcoming Red Flag exercises are scheduled for July 21 - Aug.1 and Aug. 11-22.
