Buckley F-16s deploy to Iraq

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AURORA - It was an early wake up call for some Aurorans as more than 10 Colorado Air National Guard F-16s roared to life, lifting into the sky on their way to Iraq.

Approximately 15 jets took off from Buckley Air Force Base early Tuesday morning, beginning the more than 20 hour flight to Iraq. The first leg of the trip to Moron, Spain was expected to take 10 hours.

The commander of the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard says in-flight refueling schedules and changing time zones dictated an early morning takeoff for the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

Before leaving the pilots went through a pre-flight briefing, filled out pre-flight paperwork and went through a lengthy equipment check, making sure that everything from their night vision goggles to their flight controls were working properly.

The deployment of the planes and the pilots from the 120th Fighter Squadron comes after more than 150 Colorado Air National Guard men and women left for Iraq last week in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This is the fourth deployment of members of the 140th Wing during the past six years to support operations in Iraq.