F16 Fighting Falcon Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom Chapter on 410 AEW With H23 Only

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

“Mob” and “Wolfman” In 2003, Ned Linch was a recently-furloughed Delta Airlines Boeing 727 pilot and activated guardsman flying Block 30 F-16C+ Vipers with the 160th FS, 187th FW, Alabama Air National Guard (AL ANG). He started his flying career as a Weapons Systems Officer on F-111Es based at RAF Upper Heyford, but after 500-hours in the big ‘Vark’s right hand seat, his 20/25 vision was deemed good enough to allow him to be selected for pilot training. He now has more than 2,000 Viper hours in his logbook. Brian Wolf is much the same: friendly, talkative, unassuming. In contrast to Linch’s intense blue eyes, Wolf has a relaxed, disarming smile, but like Linch there’s no bravado in his demeanour. Wolf has also taken a circuitous route to the Viper’s cockpit; joining the USAF as an enlisted troop, he later became an officer to pursue his boyhood dream of flight. He got what many would consider the ultimate fighter assignment – a slot flying Vipers with the Guard. I meet Wolf at the 160th Fighter Squadron’s Ops Desk at Montgomery Field, Alabama. He’s agreed to be interviewed for a book I am writing for Osprey about the F-16’s role in the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom. He’s chatty and easy to get along with, but his whole demeanour changes when he starts to recall that night. It would be another 9-months until I finally found myself in Florida and able to meet Linch. We’d spoken on the phone prior, but my first real introduction to him is when I check into my hotel and the receptionist, satisfied I am the correct ‘British reporter’, produces from behind the desk a special operations helmet bag stuffed full of mineral water and snack food. A note inside reads, “Welcome to the USA” and is signed “Ned Linch”. Linch, it turns out, is one of the nicest people I’ve met in a long time.

Neither man believes that he is any more or less special than any other that deployed to OIF, but even so, the two deserve recognition.

This is their story.

The following pages of copyrighted information are excerpts from the chapter (410th AEW, Azraq Air Base, Jordan) in the recently-released Osprey Publishing book, F-16 Fighting Falcon Units in OIF, ISBN 1841 769 940, by Steve Davies and Doug Dildy.

Visit Amazon.com or your favorite book seller to purchase the complete copy of this book by Steve Davies and Doug Dildy.

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited

©2006 Osprey Publishing Limited Visit Amazon.com or your favorite book seller to purchase the complete copy of this book.