A Dutch intelligence officer gives 1st Lt. Alexandra Hanson an in-brief about her role in FRISIAN FLAG 2010 on April 13 at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands. Similar to RED FLAG at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., personnel and aircraft from several nations participate in this exercise to train on large-scale integration and combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Haley Ageton)

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Lt. Col. Michael King (center), 493rd Fighter Squadron commander, and other pilots are briefed at the operations desk before their training mission April 13 during FRISIAN FLAG 2010 at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands. In addition to the RAF Lakenheath personnel and U.S. Air Force F-15Cs, other nations and aircraft participating in this exercise include Dutch F-16s, Swedish JAS-39s, Finnish F-18s, Norwegian F-16s, German F-4s and Polish F-16s. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Haley Ageton)

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493rd Fighter Squadron pilots train in the Netherlands

Capt. John Friedman, 493rd Fighter Squadron, discusses where he will be flying during mission planning with a Dutch intelligence officer April 15 during FRISIAN FLAG 2010 at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands. With participants from seven different countries, the multi-nation exercise will last until April 22 and is meant to train pilots on offensive and defensive roles through realistic scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Haley Ageton)

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493rd Fighter Squadron pilots train in the Netherlands

A Dutch pilot gives a group of 493rd Fighter Squadron pilots a briefing on the conflict in Afghanistan in a Squadron Weapons and Tactics Talk April 15 during FRISIAN FLAG 2010 at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands. During briefings such as this one, pilots learn about life as a pilot in a war zone and what demands are placed on them in real-time targeting situations. Similar to the RED FLAG exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., personnel and aircraft from several nations participate in FRISIAN FLAG to train on large-scale integration and combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Haley Ageton)

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Capt. Mark Fogel, 493rd Fighter Squadron, talks about the role of the F-15C in FRISIAN FLAG 2010 to a member of the Dutch press April 13 at Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands. Dutch media was invited to the base and given an opportunity to meet and interview the multi-national personnel participating in the exercise, understand the purpose of the event and see the aircraft from each country. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Haley Ageton)

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493rd Fighter Squadron pilots train in the Netherlands

Published April 14, 2010
By Capt. Alysia Harvey
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- More than 100 Liberty Wing pilots, maintainers and support personnel traveled to Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands, April 12 to participate in FRISIAN FLAG 2010.

The multi-nation exercise will last until April 22 and is meant to train pilots on offensive and defensive roles through realistic scenarios with an emphasis on tactical decision making.

In addition to the RAF Lakenheath personnel and U.S. Air Force F-15Cs, other nations and aircraft participating in this exercise include Dutch F-16s, Swedish JAS-39s, Finnish F-18s, Norwegian F-16s, German F-4s and Polish F-16s.

The first exercise of this kind -- which is comparable to RED FLAG at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. -- was staged at Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, in 1992. At that time, it was called DIATIT, meaning Diana Tactical Integrated Training. In 1993, the exercise was renamed DIAWACS in order to emphasize the participation of E-3 AWACS aircraft. DIAWACS reverted to its original name of DIATIT following the cancellation of E-3 participation in 1997. The growing international participation caused another name change to FRISIAN FLAG, and the first "FRISIAN FLAG" exercise was held in 1999.