Barnes ANG Base retires its last F-15C Eagles as the 104th Fighter Wing transitions to the F-35A Lightning II.
A familiar sound has faded from the skies over Westfield, Massachusetts, when on Oct. 23, 2025, three F-15C Eagles from the 104th Fighter Wing took off one last time from Barnes Air National Guard Base, marking the end of an era for one of the Air National Guard’s most storied fighter units. The service announced this final departure on Nov. 5, highlighting how the formation’s final loop over the base was a bittersweet farewell as the Eagles departed for their permanent resting place at the “boneyard” of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.
As the 104th FW closes the chapter on its F-15 operations, preparations are already underway for the future platform. In fact, beginning next summer, Barnes will welcome its first F-35A Lightning II fighters from Lockheed Martin’s production line in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Retirement through the Pilot’s Eyes
U.S. Air Force Pilots 1st Lt. Kyle “Nuke” Eckert, 131st Fighter Squadron, Col. David “Moon” Halasi-Kun, 104th Fighter Wing Commander, and 1st Lt. Eric” Gronk” Flynn, 131st Fighter Squadron, took off for the final time from Barnes with the F-15s 83-0039, 86-0163, and 86-0178. “For these three pilots, the F-15C Eagle wasn’t just a jet, it was the only aircraft they had ever flown,” highlighted the service.
The bond is even more special as “Nuke” and “Gronk” previously only admired the Eagles from the flight line as maintainers. The eventually worked their way up towards obtaining a pilot slot to enroll in flight training, earning their wings and joining the squadron as pilots.
The press release notes that for “Moon,” the 104th FW Commander, the journey with the Eagle ends here. On the other hand, “Nuke” and “Gronk” are headed to the F-35’s Formal Training Unit (FTU) and will later return to Barnes as F-35 pilots.
“It was a bittersweet moment, being able to be the last F-15 to take off out of Barnes and officially close that chapter for us was a very surreal and special feeling for sure,” Nuke said.
The Legacy of the F-15 Eagle at Barnes ANG Base
For 18 years, the F-15C Eagle was the symbol of the 104th Fighter Wing’s air dominance mission. Transferred to Barnes in 2007 from the 102nd Fighter Wing at Otis ANGB, the Eagle brought with it a proud heritage of air superiority. The unit previously flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
During that time, the 104th FW’s F-15Cs maintained 24/7 aerospace control alert responsibilities for the northeastern United States under NORAD, ensuring rapid response capability against any airborne threat approaching the region. The squadron’s readiness posture and performance made it one of the premier alert units in the Air National Guard.
The press release noted that the 104th FW sent 37 of its 60 F-15s to the boneyard. The unit is scheduled to receive 20 F-35s straight from Lockheed Martin’s assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, starting next summer.
As the Air Force put it, the sound of the Eagle became part of the community’s rhythm. In fact, the Eagle was the second longest-serving aircraft at Barnes, surpassed only by the A-10, which held the skies for an impressive 30 years.
In the statement, “Nuke” thanked Westfield for their support: “Thanks to Westfield and all of its people for the unwavering support over the last 18 years, from the Airshows, to the 4AM Afterburner takeoffs. It will be quiet for a while, but we’ll be back in no time,” said Nuke.
Future Plans for the F-15
While more and more F-15s are being retired to the boneyard, some are going to soldier on for some more years. In fact, as reported by Air and Space Forces Magazine, the Air Force’s “Long-Term Fighter Force Structure” plans to retain some F-15C/D Eagles to perform the homeland defense mission at least until 2030.
The service plans to keep 42 combat-coded F-15C/Ds in inventory through 2028, and the last 21 through 2030. An Air Force official told Air and Space Forces Magazine that they “expect full divestment of F-15C/Ds in FY2031 when they are replaced by the F-15EX.”
Previously, the service’s budget request mentioned the Eagle would be completely phased out in fiscal year 2026. Now, the “most viable F-15C/Ds,” which are also being referred to as “Platinum Eagles,” will remain in service with the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno.
Notably, Air and Space Forces Magazine also reported that more than 75% of the F-15 fleet is now limited because of structural fatigue. In fact, there are performance restrictions in place for the maximum speed and G-loading while maneuvering.
