TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE — Long-term plans became reality Monday afternoon when Lt. Col. Erick Gilbert landed the first of five cutting-edge fighter jets at the new home of the 95th Fighter Squadron.
Efforts to create the largest single-base contingent of F-22 Raptors, which the Air Force touts as the most advanced fighter jet in the world, at Tyndall began 10 years ago, said Col. David Graff, commander of the 325th Fighter Wing.
“What a great sight,” Graff said. “Let it be a visual representation of all the years of hard work so many of you in the community spent securing Tyndall as a leader in our United States Air Force.”
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The five planes that arrived Monday from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico are the first of 24 Raptors that will be based at Tyndall. The remaining planes will arrive by the end of April; at that point, more than 50 Raptors will be stationed at the base.
“Today is a great day,” Graff said. “The sound of freedom just got a little louder over the world’s most beautiful beaches.”
A welcome wagon of about 200 airmen and guests cheered as Gilbert, who commands the 95th Fighter Squadron, taxied into position in front of a hangar and climbed out of the $143 million jet’s cockpit.
The arrival symbolizes an expansion of Tyndall’s mission into combat operations for the 95th Fighter Squadron, which marks a first in Tyndall’s history, Graff said.
“No unit, combat aviation unit, has ever deployed out of Tyndall Air Force Base,” he said.
With the planes come not only pilots, but a host of maintenance and support personnel. The Air Force estimates the arrival will be accompanied by more than 1,000 new positions; most will be filled by airmen, but some will be civilian.
Graff praised Bay County civic and business leaders for their efforts when he briefly addressed the assembly.
“They postured Tyndall appropriately to ensure a new mission would show up at Tyndall,” Graff said. “Folks, that day has come.”