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Awaiting their wings

Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-08 waits for the important part of the graduation ceremony April 14 -- presentation of their Air Force pilot wings. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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Honoring the missing man

A missing man formation flown by T-38C Talons from the 25th and 560th Flying Training Squadrons is captured in the skies above Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, March 31. The formation was flown to honor a Vietnam War survivor, retired Lt. Col. Bill "Shortfinger" Schwertfeger. He celebrated the 50-year anniversary of his repatriation from the Hanoi Hilton during an evening of activities at the Vance Crosswinds Club. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger)

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A Vietnam-era fighter pilot honored

Capt. Shanae Caker, left, assigned to the 114th Fighter Squadron, Kingsley Field, Oregon, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bill "Shortfinger" Schwertfeger, take a closeup look at a 114th FS F-15 Eagle on the flightline at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, March 31. Team Vance hosted a variety of events that evening in celebration of Shortfinger's 50-year anniversary of his repatriation from the Hanoi Hilton. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Christopher Ornelas Jr.)

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The fini-flight makes 5,200

End of an Air Force career

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Parking for the last time

A ground crew member marshals Lt. Col. Ian Bass' T-6A Texan II into a parking spot, following Bass' last flight as an Air Force pilot. Bass retires April 1 with 5,200 flying hours in the T-6A at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger)

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Ending an Air Force flying career

Lt. Col. Ian Bass, a T-6A instructor pilot with the 5th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, ends his Air Force flying career with the last of 5,200 hours in the T-6A Texan II, March 24. He retires April 1. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Christopher Ornelas)

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The wings of an Air Force aviator

Nineteen sets of Air Force pilot wings were awarded during the graduation ceremony of Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-07, held March 24 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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A proud moment

Nineteen students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-07 received their wings during a graduation ceremony held March 24 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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Introducing the new aviators

Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-07 received their wings during a graduation ceremony held March 24 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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Team Vance at 19th Air Force fly-in

71st Flying Training Wing command team and instructor pilots from Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, visit Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, March 3, 2023, during the 19th Air Force's Commanders Call and Fly-in. Team Vance IPs participated in the turkey shoot, F-16 incentive rides, familiarization flights and a crud tournament with other Air Education and Training Command IPs. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kathy Duran)

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Air Force Diagnostic Imaging NCO of Year

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cassandra Caballero is a diagnostic imaging technician with the 71st Medical Group, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. She earned the U.S. Air Force Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year award for 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Christopher Ornelas Jr.)

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Meeting with partners in aviation

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, the 19th Air Force commander, attends a meeting at Enid Woodring Regional Airport, near Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 9. Woodring's runway is often used during student pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Christian Soto)

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Touring the Spouse Space

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, the 19th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Justin Apticar, the 19th AF command chief, were presented Spouse Space morale patches, during their tour of the newly opened facility for Vance spouses to connect, at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 10, 2023. The Spouse Space patches exemplify the “Rosie the Riveter” concept of empowering spouses. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Ashley Crist)

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Mentoring with the Chief

Chief Master Sgt. Justin Apticar, 19th Air Force command chief, chats with Airman 1st Class Ashley Crist, a 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, and Airman 1st Class Cristina Mejia, a 71st FTW religious affairs specialist, over breakfast at the Falcon's Nest Bowling Center, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 9, 2023. Apticar met Airmen during his visit and provided advice about career development and opportunities in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kathy Duran)

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Oklahoma skies via simulator

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, the 19th Air Force commander, flies in a T-1A Jayhawk simulator with Capt. Evan Taylor, a 71st Flying Training Wing instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 10. The general viewed the new Air Mobility Fundamentals-Simulator curriculum integrated into Undergraduate Pilot Training. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Kathy Duran)

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Aviation is a family business

Family members share the joy of new wings at the graduation ceremony for Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-06, held March 3 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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New wings, proud smiles

Pinning on new pilot wings by someone significant in the aviator's life is a long-standing tradition in the U.S. Air Force. The 21 members of Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-06 received their wings March 3 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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Advice for the new aviators

Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells the 21 new aviators in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-06, what they have to look forward to in their military careers. Myers received his Air Force wings at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in June 1965. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Bailey)

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Slipping the surly bonds -- by simulator

Simulator

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Slipping the bonds of Earth -- via simulator

Maj. Gen. Albert Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, flies in a T-1A Jayhawk simulator at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 3, 2023. Simulated flights play a significant role in training word-class pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Christian Soto)

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