Since they have been back at home station, the squadron has been taking advantage of unique training opportunities made available by the expansive White Sands Missile Range which borders Holloman Air Force Base, and includes approximately 3,200 square miles in parts of five counties in southern New Mexcio, according to the U.S. In fact, the 7th Fighter Squadron recently returned from a nine-month deployment to Southwest Asia in January. "We are actively preparing for the arrival of the F-16s, and, in the meantime, F-22s will continue to fly at Holloman and remain ready for worldwide deployment anytime, anywhere."Īnd that is exactly what the F-22s have been doing.
"Let me emphasize that although this mission change has been delayed, it has not been canceled," Col.
Air Force structure changes, including aircraft transfers.Īs a replacement for the F-22, Holloman was supposed to receive two F-16 training squadrons from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., but this move was also postponed due to the congressional freeze. The 7th Fighter Squadron, which flies Holloman's 24 F-22 Raptors, was supposed to move its hundreds of F-22 support personnel and aircraft to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., in the spring of 2013 to comply with the Air Force's F-22 fleet consolidation plan, but that never happened.
Editor's Note: This article is the fourth in a series of four articles featuring the F-22 Raptors at Holloman Air Force Base.