Eielson AFB celebrates F-35 beddown completion

The 354th Fighter Wing celebrated the arrival of its final F-35A Lightning II aircraft and the subsequent completion of its fleet with a ceremony, May 13.

Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, and retired Gen. Gary North, Lockheed Martin vice president of customer requirements, attended along with several other military and local community leaders to commemorate the occasion. The arrival of the wing's final jet on April 15 marked the end of a two-year beddown process that yielded two operational fighter squadrons comprised of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Col. David Berkland, 354th Fighter Wing commander (right), poses with representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Lockheed Martin at the Last Jet Arrival Ceremony May 13, 2022, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. — Representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Lockheed Martin and the 354th Fighter Wing stand for a group photo during a ceremony at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 13, 2022. The arrival of the wing's final jet, April 15, marked the end of a two-year beddown process that yielded two operational fighter squadrons comprised of 54 permanently assigned, combat-coded F-35A aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Schoubroek)

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