301st Fighter Squadron [301st FS]

During the F-22 beddown in 2008, the 301st Fighter Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit, formed a classic associate unit with the 7th and 8th Fighter Squadron. Due to the existing facilities with the departure of the F-22s, Holloman was the logical choice for the F-16 training program.

Air Force Reserve Command established a second F-22 Raptor fighter squadron when the Air Force Reserve relocated its 301st Fighter Squadron from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., to Holloman AFB, N.M., according to an announcement at Holloman AFB 06 June 2008. The Air Force Reserve F-22 squadron formed a classic association with the active-duty 7th and the 9th Fighter Squadrons under the 49th Fighter Wing.

In 2008 the Air Force retired the F-117 to recallable climate controlled storage at their original base, the Tonopah Test Range Airfield in Nevada. With that retirement the mission of the 49th Fighter Wing returned to its familiar role as an air superiority fighter unit with the arrival of the F-22A Raptor and coincidentally making the 49th Fighter Wing the only active Air Force unit to have operated two different stealth platforms.

The 301st Fighter Wing's geographically-separated 44th Fighter Group moved began their move to Tyndall Air Force Base, FL. The first five F-22 Raptors made the journey to their new home 05 February 2014. The Raptors had been assigned to Holloman AFB, NM. They are part of the historic 301st Fighter Squadron, one of four squadrons which trace their heritage to the Tuskegee Airmen. While they remain assigned to the 301st Fighter Wing, they will be integrated with an active-duty sister unit, the 95th Fighter Squadron, part of Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing.

Air Force Reserve Command's 44th Fighter Group and Air Combat Command's 49th Fighter Wing, both from Holloman Air Force Base, NM, delivered five F-22 Raptors to Tyndall AFB on 05 February 2014. The Raptors were now assigned to Tyndall to be operated by the integrated 301st Fighter Squadron and 95th FS. The 301st FS is a detachment of the 44th FG.

"The goal is for both the squadrons to attain initial operation capability as a team," said Maj. Derek Steneman, 301st FS Assistant Director of Operations and F-22 instructor pilot. "This is just one step in the process to bring the jets here and begin flying in order to execute the Air Combat mission."

The 301st FS's mission is to provide seamless integration with active duty counterparts to deliver combat air power for America. "With these Raptors arriving, we gain the tools we need to execute the combat mission of the United State Air Force," Steneman said. "We need to get the jets here so the maintainers can have something to work on, prepare pilots for local flying operations and eventually prepare to deploy."

The 301st Fighter Squadron traces its origins to the 301st Fighter Squadron assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, the first all-Black Fighter Group, and traiined at the Tuskegee Army Airfield, AL.

On 3 March 2000, the 301st FS was activated as a Reserve associate unit to Luke's 56th FW, and Air Education and Training Command unit.

Reserve instructor pilots from the re-activated 301st FS flew 56th FW F-16's to train active-duty student pilots for their multi-role mission.

The Reserve instructor pilot associate program is a joint Air Force Reserve Command and AETC initiative, designed to help with the Air Force's current active-duty pilot retention problem. It gives the total force the option of capturing experienced fighter pilots who leave active duty but who still want to be a part of the Air Force Reserve.

The 944 FW has administrative control and limited operational control of its pilots through the 301st FS commander and the 10th Air Force commander, while operational control will reside with the active duty 56th FW.