Tyndall Hosts First Checkered Flag Since Hurricane Michael


An F-22 Raptor pilot prepares to take flight during Checkered Flag 19-1 at Tyndall AFB, Fla., May 6, 2019. Air Force photo by A1C Monica Roybal.

? F-22s are back at Tyndall AFB, Fla., at least for a two-week exercise.

Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., touched down at the base this week alongside F-15s from the 67th Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, and F-15Es from the 494th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, for Checkered Flag 19-1.

In addition to the aircrew and aircraft, crew chiefs, weapons, and munitions and communications airmen from Moody AFB, Ga.; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo., are at Tyndall for the exercise.

This is the first Checkered Flag exercise since Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm, severely damaged the base in October, according to a Tyndall release.

The base recently laid out a 12-part plan to rebuild after the storm, with an expected price tag of about $5 billion.