Military

“We are facing a dynamic environment:” F-35s flying to Europe stop in Vermont

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F-35 – Vermont National Guard photo

In the early morning of Feb. 16, F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah departed the Vermont Air National Guard Base in transit to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

“We understand the concern experienced by some this morning, and while the Vermont National Guard will not respond to individual comments related to this mission, the Public Affairs Office has logged all concerns, and leadership takes each comment seriously,” Maj. Scott Detweiler said in a press release.

As an operational F-35 Fighter Wing, the Vermont Air National Guard does everything in its control to balance F-35 mission requirements with the impact on the local community. There are times when operational security and real-world missions prevent the sharing of information on specific aircraft movements. Please continue to follow vtguard.com/F-35 for the most up-to-date, releasable information.

The full press release provided by U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Public Affairs is available at https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Press-Releases/Article/2936742/us-aircraft-head-to-europe-to-enhance-natos-collective-defense/. Much of it appears below:

In coordination with the German government, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Feb. 16, 2022, to bolster readiness, enhance NATO’s collective defense posture and further increase air integration capabilities with Allied and Partner nations.

F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah are agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g capable multirole fighters that combine stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness. The aircraft are equipped for a variety of missions to deter aggression and defend Allies should deterrence fail.

“The deployment of U.S. F-35As to Spangdahlem Air Base increases the defensive posture of the NATO Alliance and enhances our ability to operate together,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, Commander U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and Commander Allied Air Command. “We are facing a dynamic environment and this deployment significantly enhances our support to NATO’s defenses.”

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9 replies »

  1. So we could be heading to a world war and we are worried about emmisions? This state is becoming comical.

  2. Ahh yes, the sound of freedom ! Reminds me of the story I read about the citizen that complained in a letter to the editor about the flights of jet fighters that seemed to be going over his house to low and to noisily. A few days latter the commandant of the local air guard responded that those over flights were flying over the cemetery by this man’s house as a funeral salute to local soldiers killed in the Mideast. In closing, I’d rather have our F35s flying over Vermont than Russian Migs.

  3. I grew up in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield, Ma in the 1950 and 1960s. My parent’s home was directly in the flight path of B-52s and KC 135 tanker planes flying out of Westover AFB. It was a very nice middle class and well treed neighborhood during that period even with the air force planes flying 24/7…… No one complained……..No Massachusetts activists or legislators were running around with their hair on fire proposing reams of social justice legislation to correct wrongs.

    By today’s standards, my old neighborhood could be labeled as an example and victim of “environmentally injustice” and due some sort of special treatment for the neighborhood based on who currently lives there.

    Oh, how the times have changed in so many ways as new classes of victims are created based on political thinking.

  4. Surprises me not that some Burlington residents who bought a house near an airport are complaining about the sound of freedom.

  5. I’m surprised the Air Force hasn’t pulled all their F-35 out of Vermont with all the complaints. The old Plattsburg AFB would gladly take them. Yes, they would get all the income and we would get the sound as they take off and come right across our skies. The Libs in Vermont hate the military.

  6. Do all the people who CHOSE to live near railroad tracks or a fire station complain whenever there is a need for such loud vehicles at an odd hour of the night? …nothing but more of the usual anti-American virtue signaling.

    • Don’t forget shooting facilities. New Vermonters love to build expensive homes around them, and then complain about the noise !