Hobby Master 1/72 HA4418 Lockheed Martin F-35A 15-5140, 4th FS Fightin Fuujins, Hill Air Force Base, Utah 2018

The Lockheed F-35 is an advanced stealth fifth generation fighter combining speed and superb agility. There are three variants; F-35A, B and C. The F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) and has four internal weapons stations in two weapons bays plus three optional external weapons stations. The F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant while the F-35C is a CV (Carrier Variant). The F-35 will replace the USAF A-10 and F-16, the F/A-18 for the USN and the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the USMC.

The 4th Fighter Squadron was formed as the 4th Pursuit Squadron in 1941. Based at Naha AB in 1948 the 4th PS lost half their aircraft to a devastating storm so they chose the name Fightin Fuujins after the Okinawan God of Wind “Fuujin”. The 4th PS fought in Korea, Vietnam and conflicts against Iraq. In 1965 the unit was designated 4th TFS and in 1975 moved to Hill AFB as part of the 388th FW and became the 4th FS in 1991. In 2017 the 4th FS became the second unit to re-equip with the F-35A.