Warbird Information Exchange

Lt.Col. Matthew “Beast” Tanis, Director of Operations, 131st Fighter Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts ANG, flew this F-15C Eagle 86-0156 to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on April 25, 2023 where it will become a part of the permanent collection.
For 78 days in 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) conducted an aerial bombing campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, known as Operation Allied Force. On March 26, Captain Jeff "Claw" Hwang piloted this F-15C as the Mission Commander for an air support mission. Nearing the Bosnian/Serbian border, he acquired a single radar contact. While he and his wingman tracked the bogey, Capt Hwang identified it as two targets in an enemy formation. Within ninety seconds of detecting the second aircraft, Capt Hwang fired two AIM-120 missiles in rapid succession from a distance of sixteen miles and achieved the F-15's first double MiG-29 Fulcrum kill in the same engagement. For his heroic actions in
the March 26, 1999, Operation Allied Force sortie, Capt Hwang was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and named the 1999 Mackay Trophy recipient.

This F-15C is a significant addition to the collection because the F-15 has more air-to-air victories than any other U.S. fighter since the Vietnam War. The F-15C model accounts for all USAF aerial victories achieved by F-15s (except for anF-15E that destroyed a low-flying Mi-24 helicopter with a laser guided bomb during
Desert Storm). NMUSAF is bringing in this aircraft to preserve and display an F-15C with aerial victories.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

IMHO, like the MH-53 Pave Low, the real win here is getting an airplane straight out of service and preserving it as-is for future generations. Chasing parts and paint details is "fun", but is a bigger headache, far more expensive, and the result will never be as good (for a National Museum static display) as an authentic preservation.

I will say I hope the Curators leave the F-15 alone, as there will be a temptation to repaint its kill livery. Their B-57 lost all of its character and authentic markings in a similar manner.

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Woke will win out.

I'm not sure how removing its ANG markings and replacing them with the wartime unit codes would be that disruptive?
Unless the overall scheme has changed (has it? It looks the same tome, but I'm no F-15 expert) they can leave the base paint as it it and do a minor touch-up around the changed tail-code and removed ANY markings. In other words, not much different than aircraft get in normal service between full paint during depot maintenance.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I think markings as it flew in Allied Force, with the 2 kill markings, is appropriate, but "as is" works as well.

For sure, restore it to period livery, the kills are the only reason its being saved so kinda makes sense.

Only by those who identify as “smarter than you”.