A selection of ten stunning photos from the book ‘Mission Ready – Inside the Best Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Air Force’ by Patrick van Dam
Photographer Patrick van Dam was given the unique opportunity to document the 493rd Fighter Squadron’s operations from 2016 to 2021. The unit has won the Raytheon Trophy six times making it the ‘Best Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force’. These and many other photos appear in his book ‘Mission Ready’.
The photographs are complemented by stories from prominent ‘Grim Reapers’ like Gulf War veteran and three-time MiG killer Col (Ret) Cesar “Rico” Rodriguez.
While flying the Eagle the 493rd Fighter Squadron provided air-to-air offensive and defensive support for United States and NATO operations.
Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, the 493rd was the last squadron in Europe flying the F-15 Eagle. Since 1994, it has conducted air superiority missions in the Balkans, Middle East, and Baltics. The squadron has swapped its Eagles and is now flying the 5th-generation F-35A Lightning II.
Dutch-born photographer and creative director Patrick van Dam has worked most of his career in editorial (re)design and photography. He says: “Photography is w…
