Return Of The Gamblers

Photo by SrA Kenny Holston

A trio of F-16 pilots from the 77th Fighter Squadron passes over Shaw AFB, South Carolina, on their final approach to home base on their return from a deployment in support of Operation Unified Protector on 12 September 2011. Operation Unified Protector is the ongoing NATO operation enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 concerning the 2011 Libyan civil war. These resolutions imposed implementation of an arms embargo, a no-fly zone and the use of all means necessary, short of foreign occupation, to protect Libyan civilians and civilian populated areas. The operation started on 23 March 2011. The mission of the 77th FS, known as the Gamblers, is to provide suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses.