Hill's fighter wings to conduct surge operations Published June 9, 2015 HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Pilots from the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings will conduct night flying missions during a "surge" exercise here June 8-13. Local residents may hear F-16s flying during the night hours as pilots continue to sharpen their night-time combat flying skills. The active duty 388th FW and Reserve 419th FW share a fleet of Block 40 F-16s, and are required to train at night to maintain their readiness and all weather capabilities. A surge exercise also provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate aircraft maintenance resiliency and operational agility. The wings limit their night operations to what is required to remain proficient in night-flying training. When on a surge schedule, the wings will increase their normal day-to-day workload and conduct missions from 8 a.m. until shortly after midnight. The 419th and 388th continue to train regularly, ensuring they can rapidly provide expeditionary air combat capability in defense of our nation.