The 482nd Fighter Wing, which maintains and operates Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL, is a combat-ready Air Force Reserve unit located 25 miles south of Miami. The wing consists of approximately 1,800 military and civilian members who reside here in South Florida.
The wing is capable of providing F-16 fighter aircraft, mission ready pilots and support personnel for worldwide deployment to include several deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. To meet this high operations tempo, the reservists of the Air Force Reserve's 482nd Fighter Wing regularly take time from their civilian careers to meet that challenge.
The 93rd Fighter Squadron "Makos" fly and maintain the F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft. The fighter jets are identified by the letters "FM" ("Florida Makos") and the Mako shark displayed proudly on the tail. In addition, the 482nd FW supports and trains civil engineering, communications, medical, logistics, aircraft maintenance, mission support, aerial transportation specialists and a security forces squadron who deploy interchangeably with active-duty units to meet U.S. Air Force commitments around the world.
The geographically-strategic military installation now known as Homestead Air Reserve Base dates back to the 1940s when it was originally opened as Homestead Army Air Field to serve as a maintenance and fueling stopover for aircraft headed overseas. Throughout the years there have been many changes to the installation, but the men and women stationed here consistently live the Air Force core values of service before self, integrity first, and excellence in all we do.
Airshow Photography by Henk Tito
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