USAF's Fightin’ 49ers "Tutor Et Ultor" line up

On 21 April 2023, forty-nine aircraft, divided between forty one (41x) 54th Fighter Group F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and eigth (8x) MQ-9 Reapers, assigned to the 49th Wing, lined up on the runway at Holloman AFB (NM) for an Elephant Walk.

Prominently present were the special tail coloured Holloman F-16C flagships: 88-0412 (as 49WG "Tutor Et Ultor"), 88-0454 (8th FS "Black Sheep"), 88-0548 (311th FS "Sidewinders") and 90-0758 (314th FS "Warhawks"). The latter squadron should not be confused with the Spangdahlem based 480th FS. This squadron also uses the nickname "Warhawks".

The term "Elephant Walk" dates back to World War II when large bomber aircraft formations were commonplace. During this time, observers commented that the nose-to-tail formations that the bombers formed resembled that of elephant nose-to-tail formations when going to a watering hole.

The F-16C/Ds used for the Elephant Walk were assigned to the 8th, 311th, and 314th Fighter Squadrons and the MQ-9s were assigned to the 6th, 9th and 29th Attack Squadrons at Holloman AFB. The use of Reapers also marked the first time use of MQ-9s in an airpower display like this.

Holloman's 49th Wing motto "Tutor Et Ultor" is translated loosely from Latin in "I Protect and Avenge". While the USAF as a whole celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, this year the 49th Wing itself will see 75 years of age.

Credit photos: USAF