The Barnes Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, United States, has officially ended operations with its F-15C Eagle fighters, marking the end of an era for the 104th Fighter Wing.
On October 23, 2025, three aircraft made their final flight over Westfield before heading to the “aircraft boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The farewell symbolizes the unit’s transition to the modern F-35A Lightning II, expected to arrive next summer, opening a new chapter in the base’s history.
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Pilots 1st Lt. Kyle “Nuke” Eckert, Col. David “Moon” Halasi-Kun, and 1st Lt. Eric “Gronk” Flynn were responsible for the final flight. For “Nuke” and “Gronk,” the moment held special meaning, as both began their careers as mechanics before becoming F-15 pilots. While Commander “Moon” concludes his journey with the fighter, the two officers will undergo F-35 training and are expected to return to Barnes afterward.
For 18 years, the 104th Wing’s F-15Cs ensured air defense over the northeastern United States under NORAD command, becoming a symbol of readiness and security. Now, the base is preparing to receive 20 new F-35As as the old Eagles retire.
Nevertheless, part of the F-15C/D fleet will remain active in other units until 2030, when it will be replaced by the F-15EX.
More than 75% of current F-15s already show structural fatigue, limiting their performance and reinforcing the need to transition to next-generation aircraft.
Source: The Aviationist | Photos: Wikimedia | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
