Capt. Tau goes through his pre-flight checklist prior to a patrol mission over Southern Iraq.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Phil Tau goes through his pre-flight checklist in a F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to launching for a combat patrol mission over Southern Iraq on March 5, 1998. Tau and other pilots of the 175th Fighter Squadron are deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. The 175th is deployed from the 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Air National Guard.