Adopted from aborigines

  • Published
  • By Arlan Ponder
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Just what is a "bunyap?"

Ask this question down in the southern hemisphere around the locale of Australia or the East Indies and the answer would have to do with the aborigine symbol of death, a fictitious monster painted on aborigines' war shields to cast an evil spell on their enemy. Ask that same question to someone in the 49th Fighter Wing and they would tell you it was a member of the 7th Fighter Squadron.

In all actuality, the bunyap is both.

Back before Gen. Douglas McArthur tagged the 49th with its historic nickname, "the Fightin' 49ers," the 7th Fighter Squadron was part of the Army Air Corps and located "down under" in the Pacific Theater where the bunyap symbol was adopted by the squadron for roughly the same purpose the aborigines had in mind. Later, it was officially made the insignia of the 7th and was displayed on all squadron aircraft as it is today. The red-tipped claws of the now traditional bunyap represented the aircraft's armament.

The 7th FS, with its roots dating back to 1941 at Selfridge Field, Mich., has carved a prominent place for itself in the history of aerial warfare.

During World War II, 10 pilots assigned to the squadron achieved the status of "ace," while accounting for 104 of the squadron's 177 total air victories. The leading ace of the 7th FS, Maj. Richard "Dick" Bong, was also America's ace of aces, having shot down a total of 40 enemy aircraft. Of the 40, 21 came while he was flying with the 7th FS. After the end of WWII, the 7th moved to Japan as part of the occupation force.

The 7th FS, or "Screamin' Demons," saw equally distinguished service during the Korean War as one of the work horse fighter squadrons in that conflict, deploying to Taegu, South Korea. In 1957, the squadron moved to the European theater, first to Etain-Rouvres, France, and then in 1959 to Spangdahlem, Germany, where the wing became a part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shield.

In February 1967, the 7th opened the 49th Weapons Training Detachment at Wheelus Field, Libya, before moving to their current home at Holloman, along with the other squadrons in the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing.

During the Vietnam War, the Bunyaps deployed with 49th to Takhli Air Base, Thailand, to help defeat the communist offensive. Pilots from the 7th FS flew interdiction, close air support and air defense missions before returning to Holloman in August 1972.

In 1992, its new mission involved training pilots of the F-117 Nighthawk. In 2006, after 66 years of continuous service, the Bunyaps were inactivated and the mythical creatures were silenced. In 2008, with the arrival of the F-22A Raptor to Holloman, the Bunyaps were reactivated with the distinction of being the first 49ers to fly the fifth generation fighters.

Currently, the squadron flies the Air Force's most advanced fighter in the world, however, in the past the "Screamin' Demons" have flown the P-40 Warhawk, P-38 Lightning, p-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-51 Mustang, F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief, F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle and F-117 Nighthawk.

Throughout the Bunyaps' proud history, they have retained the historic image as relentless and unmerciful monsters from "down under" with their claws sharp to ward off any enemy who disturbs them, while following the "Fightin' 49ers" motto -- "Tutor Et Ultor" -- "To protect and avenge."

Editor's note: Portions of this story taken from a story in the Holloman Air Force Base Rocketeer from Oct. 1968)