Twilight for Tyndall F-15s

Air Force officials at Tyndall AFB, Fla., announced the imminent departure of the first of the 325th Fighter Wing’s F-15s, caught in USAF’s legacy fighter drawdown of some 250 aircraft to free money to address other equipment necessities and personnel shortages. The Panama City News Herald reported Tyndall’s first two F-15s left Friday and all 48 are slated to depart by Oct. 1 under an accelerated drawdown initiative that includes transfer of F-15 training to the Oregon Air National Guard. According to an earlier News Herald report, USAF in March turned over a Congressionally directed independent review—with a close look at the shift from Florida to Oregon. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) has complained he had learned third-hand that Tyndall would lose more jobs than originally expected. Florida elected officials and community leaders want USAF to increase the number of new F-22s now assigned to the base. (Also see WMBB report)