Holloman AFB, NM

Holloman AFB, NM

The Holloman Air Force Base challenge coin celebrates Holloman as the “Protector and Defender” base in the United States Air Force. Located in the high plains of New Mexico, Holloman is home to the 49th Wing, which provides combat-ready Airmen flying the world’s premier stealth advanced tactical fighter—the F-22 Raptor—and trains MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper pilots and sensor operators. Holloman trains and delivers the elite warriors of the United States Air Force, who continually serve at the forefront of Air Force operations in the most dangerous of combat conditions.

Holloman Air Force Base cemented its name into the annals of American history in 1954 when Lt. Col John Stapp rode a rocket-propelled test sled to a speed of 632 miles per hour. The Holloman High Speed Test Track is the longest and fastest in the world: it is 10 miles long, and can test speeds approaching Mach 9 (10,000 feet per second). It is a one-of-a-kind aerospace ground facility whose test capabilities include aircraft aircrew escape and safety, guided missile systems and aerodynamics, and life support systems involving crew modules, decelerators, parachutes, canopies, and catapults.

The handsome challenge coin saluting Holloman Air Force Base presents the proud emblem of the 49th Wing on the obverse, highlighted in the colors of brilliant blue and yellow, with the banner “Tutor Et Ultor.” The circumference reads “Protector and Defender” and “Holloman AFB, NM.” The reverse of the coin features the United States Air Force “Wings” on a silver-gray background.