AF mum on damaged Tyndall F-22s

An undisclosed number of F-22 Raptor stealth jets, left behind at Tyndall Air Force, Base, Fla., during Hurricane Michael “may be damaged,” according to an AF spokesperson on Oct. 12. The F-22s were left behind in hangars “due to maintenance or safety reasons,” said spokesperson Ann Stefanek, “and all of those hangars are damaged.” The AF won’t the “extent (of damage) until our crews can safely enter those hangars and make an assessment." Officials also did not describe what maintenance was taking place that led officials to leave the jets at Tyndall instead of moving them to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio where other fifth-generation F-22s from Tyndall’s 325th Fighter Wing moved earlier this week. Air Force Secretary Heather A. Wilson, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright toured Tyndall on Oct. 14. The leaders concurred there was severe damage, but were hopeful that air operations on base may one day resume. (Source: Military.com 10/15/19)