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.
F-15C 78-0543 is assigned to the 114th FS “Eager Beavers” and on January 7, 2020 at Kingsley Field ANG Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon it was unveiled wearing its new paint scheme. The scheme commemorates the heroic actions of David R. Kingsley, bombardier on B-17 “Sandman” during a raid over Ploesti, Romania. The B-17 was hit and falling and everyone was baling out. Kingsley spotted the wounded tail-gunner whose parachuted was missing so Kingsley gave the gunner his own parachute. Kingsley died and 75 years later is being honored for his supreme sacrifice with this special scheme.