Flashback Television, a United Kingdom production company for the History Channel Network, is producing the TV series, called “Battle Stations”

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the F-15 aircraft and Team Liberty men and women who fly them and maintain them,” said Senior Airman Josh Gorman, 48th Fighter Wing public affairs.

And showcase they did; for three days, Team Liberty aircrews and maintainers were filmed during their daily routines.

“The cooperation was marvelous,” said Flashback TV producer David Caldwell-Evans. “The speed of action the base provided was wonderful. We have limited resources and time to get to various locations for each show, so any time we can get this type of cooperation, it helps our show.”

The show focuses on fighting machines and their impact on warfare, said Caldwell-Evans.

“The F-15 is acknowledged as the best air superiority aircraft in the world,” he said. “We look at how it (the aircraft) was developed, how its used and its future.”

And the series picked the right aircraft, according to Capt. Eric Chapital, 492nd Fighter Squadron pilot here.

“The F-15 stacks up as the top fighter,” said Chapital, who was interviewed by the producers for his experience as a fighter pilot. “Without much change in design, we took an air superiority fighter, added more gas and some bomb stations, and made it the best tactical bomb dropper in the world.”

The first day, April 29, was spent interviewing pilots and maintainers, including Lt. Col. Frederick Shepherd, 48th Wing Readiness evaluator and F-15 pilot. “I feel it was an honor speaking on behalf on the Eagle community about the airplane for this series.”

Honored to speak and a true belief in the aircraft and their mission rings true for all of the Team Liberty members interviewed.

“I believe we have the right combination of man and machine; we have the best fighter pilots flying the most awesome fighter in the world,” said Lt. Col. Alex Cruz-Martinez, 48th Maintenance Squadron deputy commander, who was also interviewed and talked about Team Liberty’s Air and Space Expeditionary mission.

The producers filmed action sequences May 7 and 8, including aircrew briefings, flight preparations, taxing, take-offs and landings. They also filmed maintainers loading weapons and recovering aircraft.

“It’s (the F-15) the best, said Senior Master Sgt. Tony Williams, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron flight chief. “It was designed to be a multi-role fighter and has succeeded. I've been on the F-15 for almost 20 years now and we have delivered every time we've been asked to generate, deploy and execute a mission.”

The series which currently airs on the History Channel in the United States, and was recently renamed “Heavy Metal” to attract younger viewers, is tentatively scheduled to air in the United Kingdom in September.

Since 1998 Flashback Television has produced 32 one-hour programs, focusing on the pilots and machines that fought in conflicts across the twentieth century, from World War Two to the Gulf War.

-- USAFENS --