Last trio of legacy Eagles have left Barnes
On 23 October 2025, the last three McDonnel Douglas F-15 legacy Eagles left Barnes Air National Guard Base near Westfield (MA).
Having operated some 20 F-15C/D aircraft for the past 18 years, Massachusetts Air National Guard's 131st Fighter Squadron "Barnestormers", part of the 104th Fighter Wing are now in the proces of becoming a Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II operator.
While standing on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) for the northeastern part of the US until the very last moment, the past 18 years saw the "Barnestormers" also flying in and over Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Romania.
The Massachusetts legacy does not end with the Eagle. The Barnestormers are no stranger to change. From the P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-94 Starfire, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-15 Eagle, and now to the F-35 Lightning II, the 131st Fighter Squadron has always adapted.
On 25 April 2023, 131st Fighter Squadron's "Double MiG Killer" 86-0156 was donated to the USAF museum near Dayton (OH). On 22 July 2024, 131st Fighter Squadron "MiG Killer" F-15C 85-0101 was donated to the New England Air Museum (CT).
During mid-August 2025, Dual legacy Eagle F-15D 85-0134 was a news item because a passenger was accidentally ejected from the backseat at Barnes. 85-0134's current whereabouts are not known.
The last trio of MA coded Eagles that left Barnes comprised of 83-0039, 86-0163 and 86-0178. It is expected that those F-15s have been flown for storage to the Arizona Boneyard near Tucson.
Credit photos: @Edwin_SextonWx (On X) / Credit PVC patch: https://flightlineinsignia.com