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The Air Force’s revived William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet wrapped up last week, the first edition of the prestigious fighter competition in nearly 20 years—and a select group of Airmen walked away with some trophies.
From Sept. 11-15, William Tell featured some of the best air crews from across the service testing their offensive and defensive skills against simulated enemy aircraft, while ground crews competed in loading weapons, aircraft maintenance, and intelligence operations.
Fourteen different teams and individuals won awards at the meet’s closing ceremonies on Sept. 15 at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Ga. Air Combat Command identified the wings of the winners but declined to publicly identify individuals, citing operational security.
The team awards included categories for the three types of aircraft competing—F-15, F-22, and F-35—as well as one—the Major Richard I. Bong Fighter Interceptor Trophy—for individual teams that demonstrated the best fighter integration across multiple platforms and systems:
- Major Richard I. Bong Fighter Interceptor Trophy: 3rd Wing (F-22s), 366th Fighter Wing (F-15Es), 388th and 419th Fighter Wings (F-35s)
- Lieutenant Colonel James H. Harvey III Top F-15 Wing Award: 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass.
- Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Top F-22 Wing Award: 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- Brigadier General Robin Olds Top F-35 Wing Award: 158th Fighter Wing, Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt.
- Colonel Jesse C. Williams Top Intel Tradecraft Wing Award: 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- Big I Task Force Top C2 Wing: 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
- Chief Master Sergeant Argol “Pete” Lisse Maintenance Team Award: 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- Overall Weapons Load Competition: 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass.
The individual awards recognized the top crew chiefs and pilots from each aircraft type:
- Top F-15 Crew Chief: 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
- Top F-22 Crew Chief: 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- Top F-35 Crew Chief: 158th Fighter Wing, Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt.
- F-15 Superior Performer: 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass.
- F-22 Superior Performer: 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
- F-35 Superior Performer: 158th Fighter Wing, Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt.
Overall, the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., emerged as the big winner from the competition, capturing four trophies.
The 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., also took home three wins, including the overall weapons load competition, a head-to-head contest against crews with other types of aircraft. That competition took place in front of a large crowd including distinguished visitors on Sept. 14.
An Airman wears a William Tell 2023 patch at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia. Image from Facebook/Air Combat Command
Airmen prepare to participate in the William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia. Image from Facebook/Air Combat Command
Airmen prepare to participate in the William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia. Image from Facebook/Air Combat Command
U.S. Air Force aircraft from across the active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard park on the flight line during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 14, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
U.S. Air Force weapons loaders assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, compete in the F-15C Eagle weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 13, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Victoria Coursey
U.S. Air Force weapons loaders assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, compete in the F-15C Eagle weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 13, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Victoria Coursey
U.S. Air Force weapons loaders assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, compete in the F-15C Eagle weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 13, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Victoria Coursey
A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, pilots an F-15C Eagle during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
A U.S. Air Force pilot taxis an F-22 Raptor during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
A U.S. Air Force pilot taxis an F-22 Raptor during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
An F-22 Raptor flies during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft taxi past an F-15C Eagle from the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle pilot takes off during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
A U.S. Air Force pilot taxis an F-22 Raptor during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, performs pre-flight procedures in an F-35 Lightning II during William Tell 2023 at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 12, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
U.S. Air Force Airmen participate in an F-22 Raptor weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 11, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
U.S. Air Force Airmen participate in an F-22 Raptor weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 11, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
U.S. Air Force Airmen participate in an F-22 Raptor weapons load competition during William Tell at the Air Dominance Center located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 11, 2023. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Morgan R. Whitehouse
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
