The U.S. Air Force’s fabled fighter competition, William Tell, is back with a bang after nineteen years. Conducted from 11 to 15 September 2023 at the Air Dominance Center, Savannah, Georgia, this iconic event was the ultimate test of the air-to-air skills of pilots and the proficiency of the maintainers, intelligence teams, and command and control units within the aircraft fleet.
William Tell is rooted in a gunnery weapons meet first held in 1949 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Competition evolved since the meet was renamed William Tell in 1954 and has grown into the most recent iteration’s focus on near-peer competition scenarios. Included in this actuality are F-35, F-22, and F-15 Fighter Integration Teams from across the Department of the Air Force, including active duty, Guard, and Reserve airmen.
Air Combat Command highlighted that returning to William Tell was in resonance with the drive to modernize air superiority fighters at pace. It looked to stand up and recognize excellence in the best teams under pressure in Multi-Capable Airmen and Agile Combat Employment. According to Col. Ethan ‘Lefty’ Waitte, the lead judge decried the importance of air superiority, quoted, “Air superiority must be achieved; without it, all other domains will fail.”
Pilots flew a wide range of events including aerial gunnery, basic fighter maneuvers, air combat maneuvers, and a large-force simulated fighter integration mission. Air-to-Air primary mission tasks included Offensive Counter Air, defensive Counter Air, and Within-Visual-Range Maneuvering. There were also competitions in Weapons Loading, Command and Control, and in Intelligence.
The weapons-loading teams demonstrated their prowess through timed events; controllers showed their battle-management prowess. Intel teams competed in mission planning and efficiency in debriefs. “Being part of a team is why many of us joined the Air Force,” said Primo, a 90th Fighter Squadron instructor pilot. “Bringing back William Tell revives a cross-town rivalry competitiveness that makes us better.”
This was a competition between the topmost commands in the form of the Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and the Air National Guard, among others. The prominent fighter jets that were involved in this competition included the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor, and the F-35 Lightning II.
The results for William Tell 2023 were announced for all categories. The Maj. Richard I. Bong Fighter Integration Trophy award went to the 3rd Wing, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK (F-22), 366th FW, Mountain Home AFB, ID (F-15E), and 388th/ 419th FWs. The Lt. Col. James H. Harvey, III Top F-15 Wing Award was taken by the 104th FW, Barnes ANGB, MA (F-15C), and the Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker Top F-22 Wing Award was given to the 1st FW, JB Langley-Eustis, VA, and the 158th FW, Burlington ANGB, VT claimed the Brig. Gen. Robin Olds Top F-35 Wing Award.
Superiors in other categories included pilots, maintenance, intel, and command and control categories. The overall winner of the weapons load competition was the 104th FW, Barnes ANGB, MA.
In the end, the return of William Tell has served to rejuvenate the spirit of competition in the U.S. Air Force, fostering excellence and camaraderie. Lessons learned and striving for that excellence at the meet benefit the entire Department of the Air Force, ensuring that air superiority remains a critical capability our nation possesses.