TY-coded F-35As are imminent

On 15 June 2023, it became known that the newly-reactivated 95th Fighter Squadron Boneheads will be the first, out of three, squadron to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II at Tyndall AFB (FL). On 31 March 2021, Scramble Magazine wrote about Tyndall being chosen as a Lightning II base.

Being part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall, it is now expected that the 95th Fighter Squadron will receive its first F-35As during August/September. Though the 95th FS now officially exists on paper only, the squadron still awaits its first, of 24, TY-coded Lightning IIs and permanent buildings in which to park and maintain them. This, while the hangars and other facilities are still being built as Tyndall reinvents itself as an “Installation of the Future” after Hurricane Michael leveled the base in 2018.

Being erected as an active USAF combat coded squadron, the Boneheads are slated to start flying operations in August/September and have the ambition to take the squadron on a training deployment within a year and go on a combat deployment within two years.

While the 95th Fighter Squadron has a long standing relationship with Florida's Panama City-area, it is expected that the 43rd Fighter Squadron Hornets will be the next newly-reactivated F-35A squadron, also to be based at Tyndall.

At this moment it is unknown to Scramble Magazine what will be the third squadron at Tyndall.

Credit photo: USAF