Hobby Master 1/72 spare spare
Hobby Master HA4519 1/72nd F-15E Strike Eagle"Billy the Kid" 92-366, 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, April 2019 "Operation Inherent Resolve"
In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.
In October 2014 a Combined Joint Task Force called Operation Inherent Resolve was established to carry out military actions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Semiannually the U.S. rotate aircraft to ensure there is an appropriate amount of air support to accomplish the mission. Between October 2018 and April 2019 the 391st FS “Bold Tigers” / 366th FW were assigned to “OIR”. The 391st sent 18 F-15Es to the Middle East and each aircraft had a distinct nickname. F-15E 92-0366 wore “Billy the Kid”.