Airmen from the 388th, 419th return home from deployment to support Ukraine
May 9, 2022, 10:12 PM | Updated: 10:27 pm
DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — It was a beautiful reunion at Hill Air Force Base Monday when Airmen returned home after spending more than two months deployed to Europe.
They left in February to support NATO, just as tensions began building along the border of Russia and Ukraine.
Nearly 300 airmen and support personnel from the 388th and 419th deployed to an Air Base in Germany, helping to reassure NATO allies and deter Russian aggression.
The airmen say they train every day for this at Hill Air Force Base, so when the call came, they were ready.
“We fly the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft here out of Hill Air Force Base in Utah, so when our nation needs us, we’re ready to go. We were there flying aircraft on the Ukrainian border,” said Col. Craig Andrle, 388th Fighter Wing commander.
Andrle with the 388th said the airmen had short notice to say goodbye to their families back in February, making Monday’s reunion that much sweeter.
Nothing better than a homecoming! 🙌🏼
Tonight the 388th and the @419fw welcomed home our Airmen who have been deployed to @Spangdahlem_AB in support of NATO’s collective defense for the last few months.
Please help us welcome everyone back! pic.twitter.com/5FuQro09QP
— 388th Fighter Wing (@388fw) May 10, 2022
