Kadena Squadron Recognized as USAF’s Best Fighter Unit

The 67th Fighter Squadron, an F-15 unit under the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan, earned the Raytheon Trophy for 2011, judged the Air Force’s top air superiority squadron during last year. “The 67th Fighter Squadron clearly displayed its superior ability to dominate the sky anywhere in the world,” said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz in announcing the winner. Lt. Col. Robert Cioppa, the 67th FS commander, said: “The credit for this award truly belongs with the men and women of the 67th FS and [aircraft maintenance unit].” He added, “In my career, I have never seen any fighter squadron endure the operations tempo the 67th FS had in 2011.” This included “two short-notice, real-world deployments” and sending personnel and aircraft to 10 different countries on three continents “while supporting multiple joint and international exercises,” he said. The 27th Fighter Squadron, an F-22 unit at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., was the 2010 recipient of the annual trophy. (Kadena report by A1C Maeson L. Elleman)