Holloman F-22s Return from Middle East

A contingent of F-22s and more than 200 airmen arrived back at Holloman AFB, N.M., this week after a nine-month deployment to the Middle East, announced 49th Wing officials. Members of the base’s 7th Fighter Squadron and 49th Maintenance Group took part in the overseas rotation, according to Holloman’s Jan. 29 release. They operated from an undisclosed air base in the region. Wing spokesman Arlan Ponder told the Daily Report on Jan. 31 that the jets’ deployment “was a tangible demonstration of our strong commitment to regional security and stability.” He said the F-22s “supported regional exercises, mil-to-mil activities, regional security cooperation, and improved joint tactical air operations,” during their time overseas. New Hampshire’s Foster’s Daily Democrat reported that six Holloman F-22s made an overnight stop at Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth, N.H., on Jan. 27, as they worked their way home. Holloman is scheduled to lose its F-22s as part of the Air Force’s F-22 fleet consolidation, but service officials last month announced a one-year delay, to 2014, of the transfer of Holloman’s airplanes to Tyndall AFB, Fla. (Holloman report by A1C Michael Shoemaker)