Raptor race – the return of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race
March 16, 2025
The Mitchell Trophy Air Race was first established in 1922 by then Colonel Billy Mitchell, who introduced the trophy to commemorate the legacy of his brother 1st Lt John Lendrum Mitchell Jr., a pilot from the 1st Pursuit Group who died in a flying accident in France during World War I. The race and promoted air power innovation and was historically hosted at Selfridge Field, now Selfridge ANGB, until its suspension after the 1936 competition. The Trophy made a brief reappearance in the 1960 and 1962 William Tell gunnery competitions, but was then forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1998 at Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base.
After an almost 88-year hiatus, the Mitchell Trophy Air Race returned on 6 March 2025, with new rules that were intended to enhance combat effectiveness and resilience by boosting performance through competition and camaraderie; to enhance Agile Combat Employment resilience via innovation and relationships; to test physical, mental, and logistical limitations; and to identify the top talent in the 1st Fighter Wing.
The newly reinstated race involved a 446 nm flight from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, where pilots and load crews had to complete various ACE tasks. The pilots were required to run 1.6 miles to the Selfridge ANGB Museum to sign a historical logbook and then refuel and launch their own jets. This provided an opportunity for competitors to execute new tactics that could be implemented in the future to make the USAF faster and more lethal.
The return to Selfridge ANGB was symbolic, with the 1st Fighter Wing returning to its historical roots (and to the original home of the event) and paying tribute to the original home of its forerunner – the 1st Pursuit Group.
Col. Brandon Tellez, the commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, said that the race was strategically important in preparing Airmen for modern combat operations.
“The 1st Fighter Wing will face adversaries that are resourceful and determined to disrupt our tactics, techniques, and procedures in all phases of combat. Our warriors must be able to execute effective combat operations in dynamic environments that lack information and time. The Mitchell Trophy Air Race is a proud tradition. It honours the heritage of our predecessors while ensuring our airmen remain ready and lethal in the face of any challenge.”
Three squadrons within the 1st Fighter Wing, the 27th Fighter Squadron, the 71st Fighter Squadron, and the 94th Fighter Squadron competed for the trophy. The winner was Lt Col ‘Devil’, the 94th Fighter Squadron commander.
His victory highlighted the co-ordination skills and support of the load crew, and the teamwork of the squadron, showcasing the effectiveness of integrated operations between aircrews and maintainers under realistic, stressful conditions.
