Tyndall says its final goodbye to F-15s

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Team Tyndall completed its F-15 drawdown Sept. 21 with the 95th Fighter Squadron inactivation and departure of its final three F-15s.

When the drawdown began, Tyndall was home to two F-15 fighter squadrons, the 2nd and the 95th. The 2nd closed its doors on May 7 and now, less than five months later, mission complete.

The announcement for the drawdown was released in May of 2009 with the fiscal year 2010 Combat Air Forces restructuring plan calling for all 48 F-15 Eagles assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing to be divested.

Lieutenant Col. Scott Yancy, 95th Fighter Squadron commander, led the final three F-15 Eagles as they performed a formation flyover above Tyndall's flightline and departed for Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

"It's the end of another great era here at Tyndall Air Force Base," said Lt. Col. Yancy. "It has been an honor to fly the F-15 and I am humbled to be one of the last three to fly the Eagle out of Tyndall."

All 48 of Tyndall's F-15 Eagles were reassigned. They were divided and sent to the Oregon Air National Guard, 173rd Fighter Wing, Klamath Falls, Ore., the 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas, the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Newer F-15 Eagles, stationed at other military installations, remain in the Department of Defense's inventory and the Oregon Air National Guard will take over as the primary location for F-15 pilot training. Older F-15s will be used for various training and testing purposes, recycled for parts or placed in storage.

"The drawdown was not unexpected; however, it was accelerated from the planned retirement date in fiscal year 2013," said Lt. Col. Yancy. "The Air Force has taken this major step only after a careful assessment of the current threat environment and our current capabilities. By accepting this plan we have the opportunity to upgrade our remaining inventory of legacy fighters and F-22s into a flexible and lethal bridge to fifth-generation fighters."

In late July, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force announced Tyndall as one of several bases receiving additional F-22s as part of a fleet consolidation.

"This plan maximizes combat aircraft and squadrons available for contingencies," said Ms. Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. "By consolidating aircraft at existing bases, F-22 operational flexibility is enhanced."


The F-22 Raptor combines stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, and represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

The date on the new F-22 squadron's arrival to Tyndall has not yet been released.