They will be flying the new F-22 Raptor. The following is an article taken from the local paper the Alamogordo Daily News.

Fighter squad is reactivated
Team to fly F-22s
The Daily News
By Laura London, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/17/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

The Screamin' Demons are back in business at Holloman Air Force Base, and a ceremony to mark the occasion was held Friday at Heritage Park on base. The ceremony included the reactivation of the Screamin' Demons as well as the inactivation of the 8th and 9th Fighter Squadrons.

The Screamin' Demons are the 7th Fighter Squadron, which was inactivated Dec. 15, 2006, due to the phasing out of the F-117A Nighthawk. The squadron's function at the time had been to train F-117 pilots. The Screamin' Demons will now be the first F-22 Raptor fighter squadron at Holloman.

"Today we send off two great squadron commanders and establish one that is sure to be another great commander," Col. Jack Forsythe, 49th Operations Group commander, said at the ceremony.

The commanders saying farewell were Lt. Col. Todd Flesch, commander of the 8th Fighter Squadron, or Black Sheep, and Lt. Col. Kenneth Tatum Jr., commander of the 9th Fighter Squadron, or Flying Knights. Forsythe spoke of a few of the commanders' accomplishments, noting their ability to take care of their people during a major transition "was unlike anything I've ever seen."

"Gents, I suppose my only critique of your performance would be, somehow, you've managed to lose all

your people and all your aircraft," Forsythe joked.
Forsythe also introduced Lt. Col. Michael "Pigpen" Hernandez, the new commander of the Screamin' Demons, saying he could not think of a better officer or fighter pilot to lead the squadron. Hernandez comes to Holloman from Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he was operations officer for the 27th Fighter Squadron from March 2007 to April of this year.

"Of course today is also a very special day, for like the mythic phoenix of old, the bunyap is back, and wearing blue," Forsythe said, referring to the squad's mascot.

Former 49th Fighter Wing historian Rick Shea explained during a December 2006 interview that the bunyap, still displayed on the squadron patch, was chosen as squadron mascot by the 7th Fighter Squadron during the Pacific Campaign in World War II. Shea said the bunyap came from an Australian aborigine myth told to new settlers about a strange creature that lived in a deep water hole, destroying everyone who camped nearby. Shea said the Screamin' Demons adopted the creature's image "because the outcome of awakening a bunyap was the same as an aerial contest with the 7th Fighter Squadron."

Speeches from the departing 8th and 9th Fighter Squadron commanders were followed by an awards presentation. Flesch accepted the Meritorious Service Medal, second oak leaf cluster, for service from July 28, 2005, to May 20, 2008. Tatum also received the Meritorious Service Medal, second oak leaf cluster, for service from July 24, 2005, to July 1, 2008.

After receiving their awards, Flesch and Tatum relinquished their commands and their squadron guidons were furled -- for now.

The 7th Fighter Squadron was then reactivated, its guidon unfurled and presented to Hernandez. Hernandez then spoke briefly, thanking those attending and his family for their support, and pledging the squadron will be operational and ready for combat by Nov. 1, 2009.

During an interview after the ceremony, Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander, explained the choice of which squadrons would be inactivated or reactivated is influenced by the histories of the squadrons and military traditions. He said the decision ultimately rests with the Air Force Chief of Staff and the commander of Air Combat Command, who decide how best to continue those traditions.

"The 8th and 9th are taking a nap right now as we look forward to our next mission," Harrigian said.

Harrigian said the 8th Fighter Squadron will probably be reactivated in summer or fall of 2009, depending on aircraft arrival. He said there will be no training squadron at Holloman as all F-22 pilots are trained at the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

"The 9th, that'll be a wait-and-see," Harrigian said. "Again, the reasoning kind of has to do with ... the direction we had (from leadership)."

During a town hall meeting April 28, Harrigian mentioned reactivation of the 9th Fighter Squadron could happen if the Air Force and Holloman get more F-22s.

Harrigian said Friday's ceremony was a good chance to "look back at the 8th and 9th and really say thanks for everything they did as a unit with the F-117."

He acknowledged all three squadrons have great history and said although it was a little sad to put two flags away, it is exciting to be looking forward to the arrival of the Raptors.