Team Lajes refuels sister service

Pilots assigned to the 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-314), prepare their F/A-18 Hornets for launch, Sept. 24, 2012, Lajes Field. The 314th MFAS (VMFA-314), from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., stopped at Lajes for refueling and crew rest before heading out to a training mission. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Team Lajes refuels sister service

Two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets depart Lajes Field en route to a training mission, Sept. 24, 2012. Members of the 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-314), from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., stop at Lajes for refueling and crew rest before heading out to a training mission. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Team Lajes refuels sister service

Maj. Matt Walker, F/A-18 pilot, 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, steps out to his aircraft after his mission briefing, Sept. 24, 2012, Lajes Field. The 314th MFAS (VMFA-314), from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., stop at Lajes for refueling and crew rest before heading out to a training mission. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Team Lajes refuels sister service

Sgt. Louis Uhrle, fixed-wing aircraft mechanic, 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, performs pre-flight checks on an F/A-18 Hornet before his unit heads out to training, Sept. 24, 2012, Lajes Field. Uhrle and other fixed-wing aircraft mechanics are responsible for maintaining the aircraft and the pilot’s safety. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Team Lajes refuels sister service

Members of the 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-314), from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., perform pre-flight safety checks before departing to a training mission, Sept. 24, 2012, Lajes Field. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Team Lajes refuels sister service

Sgt. Louis Uhrle, fixed-wing aircraft mechanic, 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, performs pre-flight checks on an F/A-18 Hornet before his unit heads out to training, Sept. 24, 2012, Lajes Field. Uhrle and other fixed-wing aircraft mechanics are responsible for maintaining the aircraft and the pilot’s safety. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

65th OSS Airmen prep planes for joint training in Romania

Senior Airman Jason Kepner, 65th Operations Support Squadron transient alert maintenance technician, salutes Maj. Mike McGinn, 187th Fighter Wing pilot, as he prepares to launch from Lajes Field, Aug. 3, 2012. McGinn is assigned to the Air National Guard unit from Montgomery, Alabama and is participating in joint training with the Romanians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)

65th OSS Airmen prep planes for joint training in Romania

Senior Airman Jason Kepner, 65th Operations Support Squadron transient alert maintenance technician, marshals a F16 Fighting Falcon in preparation for launch from Lajes Field, Aug. 3, 2012. The aircraft is assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard unit from Montgomery, Alabama and the unit is participating in joint training with the Romanians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)

65th OSS Airmen prep planes for joint training in Romania

A F16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing, launches from Lajes Field, Aug. 3, 2012. The 187th FW is an Air National Guard unit from Montgomery, Alabama and they’re participating in joint training with the Romanians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)

65th OSS Airmen prep planes for joint training in Romania

Senior Airman Dakota Curry, 65th Operations Support Squadron transient alert maintenance technician, prepares to launch a F16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing, from Lajes Field, Aug. 3, 2012. The 187th FW is an Air National Guard unit from Montgomery, Alabama and they’re participating in joint training with the Romanians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)

Marines refuel at Lajes

Three CV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, “Black Knights", stop at Lajes Field for a refueling mission enroute to their home base, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina July 18, 2012. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

Marines refuel at Lajes

Three CV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, “Black Knights", stop at Lajes Field for a refueling mission enroute to their home base, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina July 18, 2012. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

DC-3 Dakota parks on the Lajes flightline

A DC-3 Dakota parks on the Lajes flightline for a gas n' go April 30. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lucas Silva)

Space-A to Germany

Crew members of a C-130 Hercules from the 86th Airlift Wing and 79 Team Lajes members pose for a group photo after landing at Lajes Field. Members from across Lajes were able to fly Space-A to Germany for Spring Break 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lucas Silva)

Lajes supports largest A-10 movement this year

Transient alert members from the 65th Operations Support Squadron park incoming A-10C Thunderbolts. Eighteen A-10s from the 175th Warfield Air National Guard Base landed at Lajes Field March 31, making it the largest A-10 coronet to fly to Lajes Field this year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lucas Silva)

EA-6 Prowler

Firefighters from Lajes Fire Department and Transient Alert members from Operation Support Squadron contain a fuel leak on an EA-6 Prowler from the U.S. Marine Corps after landing at Lajes for a Gas n' Go March 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lucas Silva)

Kombat Kitchen champions

An F-16 from the Pakistan Air Force is parked on the Lajes Field flightline for a gas n' go Feb. 1. (Photo by Lucas Silva)

French Navy Dassault Falcon 50 at Lajes Field

A Dassault Falcon 50 from the 24F Unit of the French Navy stationed in Lorient, France, lands at Lajes Field for a Gas-N-Go during a training mission, Jan. 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lucas Silva)

German C-160

German C-160 at Lajes

Operation New Dawn warriors transit through Lajes

Members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, leave a DC-10 after landing at Lajes Field, Azores, May 28 2011. Members of the team were headed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Lucas Silva)

Historic Puma mission ends at Lajes

The Puma helicopters, which were recently replaced by two EH-101 Merlin helicopters, first arrived to the Azores in 1977, and have since provided invaluable service, not only to the Azorean people, but also to distressed sailors, saving numerous lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Guido Melo)

Historic Puma mission ends at Lajes

The 65th Air Base Wing and 729th Air Mobility Squadron supported the Portuguese air force mission by helping load Puma helicopter components on a Portuguese C-130. The Puma was retired recently after several decades of distinguished service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lucas Silva)

Lajes fuels E-3 in support of NATO operations

An E-3 Sentry from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. parks at Lajes Field, Azores, April 11, 2011 after returning from a NATO Operation Unified Protector support mission. The NATO Operation Unified Protector mission involves reducing the flow of arms-related materials and mercenaries to Libya in the effort to protect civilians, as called for in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell)

Lajes Field aids C-130…in the fight

A C-130 Hercules from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., prepares for takeoff after receiving fuel at Lajes Field, Azores, April 11, 2011. The C-130, which is heading downrange, can fly clandestine or low visibility missions to provide air refueling for special operations aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell)