The Red Tails are alive, well

by 1st Lt. Andrea Dykes
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/16/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen lives at Tyndall with the arrival of the 301st Fighter Squadron.

The squadron is a U.S. Air Force Reserve Command unit that is comprised of combat-ready F-22 Raptor pilots, F-22 Formal Training Unit Instructors, and Adversary T-38 pilots as well as associated support personnel. The 301st FS is integrated across the 95th Fighter Squadron, 43rd Fighter Squadron, and 325th Training Support Squadron along with each of their missions.

The original 301st FS was one of four African-American fighter squadrons to enter combat in World War II. It was engaged in various missions, like harbor protection, convoy escort and armed reconnaissance. Later in the war they were used to provide escort for bombers striking enemy oil in Central Europe. After a long illustrious history the squadron became a Reserve F-22 unit in February 2010.

"It's really great to be in a squadron that has such an immediately recognizable legacy," said Lt. Col. Andrew Lyons, 301st FS commander. "We're really proud that we get to carry on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. It's an amazing Air Force tradition."

The 301st FS is part of the 44th Fighter Group, which is also moving to Tyndall from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., with the new combat-coded F-22s. While the squadron is made up of reservists, it functions similarly to its active duty counterparts. The squadron's mission is to provide seamless integration with the active duty in order to provide combat airpower with the F-22.

His job is to make sure the unit is integrated with the 95th FS, and is ready to go to war when we are fully trained and equipped. We must also ensure transparent integration at the 43rd FS and 325th TRSS missions to ensure adequate training for F-22 pilots, said Lyons.

"During day-to-day operations we perform the same functions as our active duty counterparts. We just have a different chain of command," said Lyons. "We fly missions in the same flights as our 325th FW counterparts and we strive to be basically interchangeable with active duty personnel."

The main difference between the squadrons is that the 301st FS will operate normal flying hours on certain weekends, known as drill or Unit Training Assembly weekends.

Airmen in the full-time Reserve are still referred to as reservists, but traditional reservists serve, as a minimum, one weekend a month and two weeks a year. The drill weekends are typically scheduled for the first weekend of every month with flying on Saturday between 10 a.m. to noon.

"The reason we fly on Saturdays is to deconflict with the traditional reservists' schedules. When they aren't doing their other civilian jobs, they can come in to fly or perform other duty to maintain combat readiness," said Lyons.

On weekends the squadron will also fly and integrate with other Air National Guard and Reserve units around the Gulf Coast.

"We are excited about getting established here at Tyndall and becoming combat ready later in the year," said Lyons. "We look forward to integrating with the 325th FW and Team Tyndall."