A Beloved Eagle Retires

U.S. Air Force Maj. Brannon Ferguson, a pilot assigned to the 159th Fighter Squadron, pilots the final flight of an F-15C Eagle jet as it heads to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, Aug. 14, 2023. The departure represents the wing’s divesture in the F-15C Eagle airframe as the installation prepares to receive the first batch of F-35 Lightning II aircraft in early 2025. Conversion training for Airmen and infrastructure changes are currently underway to prepare for the change in mission, which will equip the wing with the Air Force’s most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter. The arrival of F-35s will posture 125th FW Airmen to meet air superiority and global strike needs for our nation’s defense, and mark the end of a 30-year era flying F-15 fighter jets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Chelsea Smith)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Avi Reed, crew chief, 125th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares an F-15C Eagle jet for takeoff at the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, Aug. 14, 2023. The aircraft was flown to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, representing the wing’s divesture in the F-15C Eagle airframe. The installation will receive the first batch of F-35 Lightning II aircraft in early 2025. Conversion training for Airmen and infrastructure changes are currently underway to prepare for the change in mission, which will equip the wing with the Air Force’s most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter. The arrival of F-35s will posture 125th FW Airmen to meet air superiority and global strike needs for our nation’s defense, and mark the end of a 30-year era flying F-15 fighter jets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Chelsea Smith)

A Beloved Eagle Retires

Published Aug. 15, 2023
By Tech Sgt. Chelsea Smith
125th Fighter Wing

JACKSONVILLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Fla. --

On Aug. 14, 2023, Maj. Brannon Ferguson, a pilot at the 159th Fighter Squadron, retired an F-15C Eagle by flying the jet to the "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

The departure represents the wing’s divesture in the F-15C Eagle airframe as the installation prepares to receive the first batch of F-35 Lightning II aircraft in early 2025. Infrastructure changes and conversion training for Airmen are currently underway to prepare for the change in mission, which will equip the wing with the Air Force’s most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter. The arrival of F-35s will posture 125th FW Airmen to meet air superiority and global strike needs for our nation’s defense, and mark the end of a 30-year era flying F-15 fighter jets.