U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons shot down 108 drones and cruise missiles during their recent deployment to the Middle East. The aircraft and crews responsible for these air-to-air victories belonged to the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, a unit that was deployed to the region for nearly eight months in support of various U.S. military operations during that period.
The details of the F-16 shootdowns were reported by the U.S. Air Force as part of the announcement regarding the awarding of the Silver Star to Lt. Col. William Parks, who served as commander of the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (480th EFS).
Over the eight-month deployment, the twelve F-16 Fighting Falcons and 56 Airmen of the 480th EFS participated in a range of air operations conducted in support of Operations Prosperity Guardian, Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, and Rough Rider. The latter was the U.S. air offensive against Houthi forces in Yemen.
In highlighting the unit’s achievements, the U.S. Air Force noted that the squadron reached a record of 108 air-to-air victories against enemy unmanned aerial systems and land-attack cruise missiles. Additionally, under Lt. Col. Parks’s command, the 480th EFS incorporated new capabilities, such as the employment of AGR-20F air-to-ground rockets in an air-to-air role.
Another outstanding aspect of the squadron’s deployment was its resource management in the face of persistent threats. One of the solutions implemented was prioritizing the use of older AIM-9M missiles, “…resulting in more than $25 million in ammunition cost savings and leading to the first successful employment of the AIM-9M in combat in 30 years…”, the U.S. Air Force detailed.
In its release, the USAF stated that Lt. Col. Parks is credited with six air-to-air victories out of the squadron’s total of 108, shootdowns that “…helped save the lives of more than 5,000 sailors aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)…”. This action most likely occurred during Operation Rough Rider, the air offensive carried out by the U.S. Air Force and Navy against Houthi forces between March and April 2025.
Silver Star
Lt. Col. William Parks was recently awarded the Silver Star for his actions while leading a strike package composed of 21 fighter aircraft. Tasked with suppressing the enemy’s integrated air defense system, Parks “…intentionally placed himself within the threat radius of a complex air defense zone protecting the enemy capital…”.
“His heroic decision ensured the success of the mission to disable the enemy’s ballistic missile production facilities. However, due to these actions, enemy forces were able to launch a barrage of precisely guided surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery fire at Parks’s mission… For 15 minutes, with missiles detonating just meters from his aircraft, Parks led his flight through a series of high-G maneuvers and countermeasure employment…” the U.S. Air Force detailed.
After surviving the enemy air defense threat, Lt. Col. Parks was forced to coordinate an emergency refueling, given the high fuel consumption while evading surface-to-air missiles. The emergency rendezvous with two different tanker aircraft “…ensured his flight had the necessary fuel and ultimately prevented the likely loss of two aircraft due to fuel starvation…”.
Illustrative cover image. Credits: USAF – Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske
