US, Romania partner in F-15C, MiG flight training

by Senior Airman Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/15/2015 - CAMPIA TURZII, Romania -- The sound of F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft engines roaring down the runway seems like a normal thing for the Airmen of the 142nd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, Portland, Oregon, to hear.

However, seeing Romanian MiG-21 fighter aircraft following behind their F-15Cs may be a new experience for these Guardsmen.

But sights and sounds like these together are a regular occurrence as the European theater security package continues.

The ANG Airmen, along with active-duty U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 123rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, serve in various roles for the TSP while forward deployed to Campia Turzii, Romania, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Since arriving to the country, the Airmen have performed routine flying missions and become accustomed to the Transylvanian airspace. They will soon begin working with the Romanian air force pilots and their MiG-21s.

With building their partnership in mind, both sides shared objectives they hope to achieve from the training.

"We continue to work on our interoperability," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan, 123rd EFS commander. "If we come back, hopefully we have made those connections and made those standards so it is easier to quickly pick up where we left off."

Romanian air force Cmdr. Marius Oatu, 71st Air Base commander, also remarked on the two countries working together to learn from each other.

"The fact that the Stars and Stripes are standing near the colors of the Romanian flag are a guarantee for success generally speaking," Oatu said. "We have a great opportunity to train together and practice tactics and procedures together with the Airmen from the 123rd EFS."

In addition to allowing the U.S. and Romanian air forces to work together, the training demonstrates the United States' commitment to a peaceful Europe.

"All these exercises are a great opportunity to tighten the bond between the United States and Romania," Oatu said.