A look back at 2010

  • Published
  • By the 49th Wing Public Affairs Office
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The new year is here, and with it comes the opportunity to take a look back at the accomplishments of 2010.

For the 49th Wing and Holloman Air Force Base, 2010 was a year of firsts:

The first real-world mission of Holloman's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Formal Training Unit

In January 2010, a devastating earthquake hit the country of Haiti. Units from across the base assisted in the relief effort, later known as Operation Unified Response. Not only were "Fightin' 49ers" called upon to provide potable water and equipment to the country, but the newly-stood up RPA FTU was asked to provide aircraft and personnel to support the effort.

Although it was not a typical tasking for the training unit, the 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron answered the call.

The first time Holloman's Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resource Base sent assets in a multi-modal configuration

Amid the ongoing relief operations, the 49th Fighter Wing continued to support war efforts down range. In February 2010, the 49th Materiel Maintenance Group began the movement of approximately 150 truckloads of assets in support of joint and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The first time the 49th FW acted as a lead unit with F-22 Raptors during a Red Flag exercise

Also in February 2010, the 49th FW was a lead unit during Red Flag 10-3, an advanced aerial combat exercise where air crews from the U.S. and other allied nations trained in realistic aerial war scenarios at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

The first time the 49th Fighter Wing engaged in Total Force Integration with a Reserve component

In April, the 49th FW welcomed a partner unit when the Air Force Reserve Command's 44th Fighter Group officially stood up at Holloman.

The presiding officer of the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Frank Padilla, 10th Air Force commander, spoke of the challenging nature of integrating active-duty and Reserve components that would make up the Total Force Integration team, but added "it is the hard that makes it great."

The first deployment of F-22 Raptors from Holloman to the Western Pacific

Twelve F-22 Raptor aircraft and Airmen from Holloman deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Package in May 2010. This deployment marked the first time F-22s from Holloman were sent to the Western Pacific to train in a forward location.

The first 49th Wing commander assumed command

In June, hundreds of Airmen from across the 49th Fighter Wing welcomed a new commander and new wing name during a change of command ceremony. Col. David Krumm became the first commander of the newly designated 49th Wing.

At the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, 12th Air Force commander, explained the official change of the wing's designation from a fighter wing to a wing.

"The Fightin' 49ers have proven their combat and combat support capability literally around the globe ... It is evident with the cutting edge aircraft that your world-class maintainers maintain and your pilots fly and the multiple unique missions that this wing conducts and supports," said General Spears. "Because this wing now supports multiple missions, today we will officially change your designation from a fighter wing to a wing -- one with a wide-range of important and global missions."

For a complete slideshow showcasing 2010 for the 49th WG and Holloman AFB, check out "2010 Through the Lens."