Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th Fighter Wing pilot, prepares for his flight at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2015. McCunn reached a career total of 3,000 flying hours while deployed to Kadena during a joint training mission with the 18th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry)

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Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th Fighter Wing pilot, does a pre-flight inspection in preparation for his flight at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2015. McCunn reached a career total of 3,000 flying hours while deployed with his Air National Guard unit to Kadena for joint training with the 18th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry)

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Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th Fighter Wing pilot, taxis on the flightline before take off from Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2015. McCunn reached a career total of 3,000 flying hours while at Kadena for joint training with his Air National Guard unit from Wisconsin. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry)

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Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th Fighter Wing pilot, takes off from Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2015. McCunn reached a career total of 3,000 flying hours while deployed with his Air National Guard unit from Wisconsin to Kadena for joint training with the 18th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry)

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Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

Members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th Fighter Wing, pose for a group photo after U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn, 115th Fighter Wing pilot, completed his 3,000th flight hour at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 13, 2015. McCunn was deployed with his Air National Guard unit from Wisconsin to Kadena for joint training with the 18th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry)

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Pilot reaches 3k flight hours while at Kadena

Published Feb. 19, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- A pilot currently deployed to Kadena has just completed a milestone in his career, joining an elite group of just 250.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew C. McCunn completed a flight here taking him over a career total of 3,000 flight hours.

Upon landing, McCunn was surrounded by friends and family as he became soaked in water from the traditional housing down for his accomplishment.

McCunn is a traditional guardsman with the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard in Madison, Wis. flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon

McCunn is also a full time first officer with American Airlines, flying the Boeing 767 internationally out of Chicago O'Hare.

He has an estimated 400 total hours conducted in combat, including several deployments to places like Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Djibouti giving him a lot of experience around the world.

"Probably the best trip I have ever been on was a factory delivery of 4 brand new F-16s to the Greek Air Force," said McCunn. "The Greeks were fantastic hosts and really rolled out the red carpet for us."