Eglin issues boat ops notice

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – It may be noisy when the 96th Operations Group conducts boat operations in Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico Thursday and again Feb. 18-21. And there may be some surprising sights as well – like boats with fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes. The operations are part of the 53rd Wing's Weapon System Evaluation Program. Fighter aircraft will release munitions in the morning around 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. about 20 nautical miles out in the Gulf. In the afternoon around 1 to 5 p.m. about 30 boats will be used by A-10s and F-15s as visual targets; no weapons or ammunition will be involved in the testing. The boats will transverse between the Mid-Bay Bridge and the Highway 331 Bridge or 5 to 20 miles South of Destin in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat operators will be dressed in various military uniforms and white costumes and will carry simulated, rubber rifles, painted in high visible colors which will be kept out of view when transiting to and from the mission area. (Source: Eglin Air Force Base Public Affairs, 02/10/14)