Free Republic

Known as the "Red Tail Angels" by bomber crews of the 15th Air Force, who they flew in support of over the skies of Europe, the famed 301st Fighter Squadron will relocate from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. to Holloman where its reserve members will form a classic association with active duty military members from the 49th Fighter Wing. The squadron will fly the F-22 Raptor alongside the 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons, while also performing their monthly reserve weekend training missions. Ironically, all of the squadrons -- 301st, 7th and 8th -- can attribute their early roots back to...

The 8th Fighter Squadron received their first of 20 F-22 Raptors on the afternoon of December 21. The arrival of 8th FS flagship, a Langley AFB Raptor -- which came from maintenance in Palmdale, Calif. -- starts the next chapter of the "Black Sheep's" storied history that started in 1941 when the squadron was assigned to the 49th Pursuit Group, where during World War II, their pilots amassed 207 aerial victories. "Air dominance," said Lt. Col. Craig "Bluto" Baker, 8th FS commander, relating how the F-22 fits into Holloman's history. "The F-22 builds on what previous generations of air superiority...