[Llarry]

One of the forward-based combat units of the U.S. Air Force is the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Misawa has had two squadrons (36 aircraft) of F-16Cs for some years. Now the first few of 48 planned F-35As have arrived to replace the F-16s. Misawa is no stranger to the F-35, though, as the Japanese Air Self Defense Force operates F-35As from his Northern Japan location.

The 35th FW's F-16Cs carry tail code "WW" standing for Wild Weasel, as they specialize in the suppression of enemy air defenses. With the arrival of the F-35As this may no longer be the case. I haven't seen one of the new F-35As painted up yet.