U.S. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, 3rd Air Force commander,

U.S. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, 3rd Air Force commander, meets Stefan Dinchev Yanev, Bulgarian Minister of Defense, at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, April 28, 2017, prior to F-35s landing there for the first time. Eight F-35s deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah to RAF Lakenheath, England on April 15. Two of the eight forward deployed to Bulgaria for a brief time which allowed the F-35s to engage in familiarization training within the European theater while reassuring allies and partners of U.S. dedication to the enduring peace and stability of the region. The F-35s are assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron and are supported by total force Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing, and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th Fighter Squadron, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 459th Air Refueling Wing provided the aerial refueling capability allowing the aircraft to fly non-stop to their destination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane)