Team JBER welcomes Tyndall F-22s

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Caitlin Russell
  • 673d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Following the recent catastrophic damage to Tyndall Air Force Base caused by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, Tyndall F-22 Raptors have landed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Tyndall F-22s and personnel with the 95th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit have been reassigned to JBER as Tyndall begins its long-term recovery from the high-end Category 4 storm. Most personnel are scheduled to begin arriving in early 2019.
“Our Air Force has acknowledged the strength of Tyndall comes from its Airmen and families. We are honored to welcome them to our team and committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the Indo-Pacific,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces commander. “This relocation not only ensures our ability to maintain the readiness and lethality of our Airmen and this fifth-generation fleet, but also enhances our capabilities to support the national defense strategy in this critical region.”
JBER is one of three bases absorbing the Tyndall F-22s; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., are receiving the others.
“As the personnel arrive, we’re going to absorb them into our current operations tempo and then build up the flying mission,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Krellner, 3rd Operations Group deputy commander.
When the 95th FS and AMU was stationed at Tyndall, their mission included defensive counterair, offensive counterair and attack operations.
“Their mission at JBER is expected to run similarly,” Krellner said. “The goal is to continue safe and effective flying operations, in addition to training and equipping our Airmen to be ready to go at any moment.”
Throughout the movement, our priority has been focused on the Airmen,” Krellner said. “They’ve had their lives completely uprooted and any challenges we’ve had in this process pales in comparison to what they have gone through. We’re eager to accept them and I think that the additional Airmen and aircraft will have a positive effect on our mission.”
Exact numbers of aircraft and personnel and precise timelines of movements are being withheld for operational security purposes.