120th Fighter Squadron

120th Fighter Squadron
120th Fighter Squadron Squadron Emblem
Active	since 28 August 1917
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Fighter
Part of	Colorado Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado
Nickname(s)	Colorado Cougars Redeyes (call sign} Milehigh Militia
Motto(s)	"FIRST IN THE AIR GUARD"
Mascot(s)	Colorado mountain lion Colorado Cougars
Engagements	World War I World War II

The 120th Fighter Squadron (120 FS) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing located at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. The 120th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

The squadron is a descendant organization of the World War I 120th Aero Squadron, established on 28 August 1917. It was reformed on 27 June 1923, as the 120th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.

Overview

The current mission of the 120th is to operate at the highest levels of military and domestic policy protecting the midwest America and Operation Enduring Freedom. Also the 120th Fighter squadron has deployed five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, most recently to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in 2010. The 120th has also supported an Air Expeditionary Forces deployment in the Pacific region and multiple National Special Security Events, such as the Democratic National Convention in 2008, in Denver, Colorado.

History

World War I

The 120th Aero Squadron--American Expeditionary Force was formed on 6 August and organized on 28 August 1917 and trained. The squadron left Kelly Field (San Antonio, Texas) on 9 November 1917. Arrived Ellington Field the next day and continued training.

Left Ellington Field 31 January 1918. Arrived Liverpool, England, March 4th and went to Romney Ja county England. Left for New Romney March 9th-arrived same date. Arrived Winchester, England Sept. 2nd for Le Harve, France. Left Le Harve Sept. 4th for St. Maireil, France. Entered first battle the night of March 21st. Battle rages on for five nights and four days. Finally succeding in driving the Germans back. Germans attacked Calais again on March 29th. July 26th battle at Amiens. Lost eleven Airstors and nine men. August 9th went to Lillie, France, on the border of Alsace-Lorraine. Crossed the border on August 16th from there to Belguim and from Belguim to Lichemburg. On Sept. 2nd. returned to Tours, France for recreation and rest. Left St. Maireil Sept. 16th. Arrived Tours (2nd A.E. F.) Sept. 18th.

Tours for Bordeaus for debarkation. 1 May 1919 arrived U. S. May 6. Inactivated at San Antonio on 17 May 1919

Lineage

Another representation of the emblem of the squadron

Flight suite and jacket patch

• Organized as 120th Aero Squadron on 28 August 1917

Demobilized on 17 May 1919

• Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 120th Observation Squadron which, having been allotted to Colorado NG, was activated on 27 Jun 1923

Ordered to active service on 6 Jan 1941

Re-designated: 120th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942

Re-designated: 120th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942

Re-designated: 120th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943

Re-designated: 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943

Disbanded on 30 Nov 1943.

• Reconstituted on 21 Jun 1945

Re-designated 120th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Colorado ANG, on 24 May 1946

Extended federal recognition on 30 Jun 1946

Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 April 1951

Re-designated: 120th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 12 Apr 1951

Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control, 15 November 1952

Re-designated: 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Jul 1955

Re-designated: 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 Jan 1961

Federalized and placed on active duty, 26 January 1968

Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control, 30 April 1969

Re-designated: 120th Fighter Squadron on 15 Mar 1992

Assignments

• Unknown, 28 Aug 1917-Sep 1918
• Second Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1918-Feb 1919
• Unknown, Feb-17 May 1919
• Colorado NG (divisional aviation, 45th Division), 27 Jun 1923
• Third Army, 6 Jan 1941
• III Air Support Command, 1 Sep 1941
• 77th Observation (later Reconnaissance, Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 12 Mar 1942-30 Nov 1943
• 140th Fighter Group, 1 Oct 1946
• 140th Fighter Wing, 1 Nov 1950
• 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 12 Apr 1951
• 140th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 Jul 1955
• 140th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Jan 1961
• 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 26 January 1968
• 140th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 April 1969
• 140th Operations Group, 15 Mar 1992-Present

Stations

• Kelly Field, Texas, 28 Aug 1917
• Ellington Field, Texas, c. 10 Nov 1917
• Garden City, New York, 3-16 Feb 1918
• New Romney, England, 9 Mar 1918
• Stamford, England (detachment at New Romney, England, and Crail, Scotland), c. 10-c. 27 Aug 1918
• St Maixent, France, 6 Sep 1918
• Yours, France, 17 Sep 1918
• Port of embarkation, France, c. Feb 1919-unknown
• Mitchell Field, New York, c. 7-17 May 1919
• Denver, Colorado, 27 Jun 1923
• Biggs Field, Texas, 15 Jan 1941

Flight operated from Laredo Army Airfield, Texas, 10 Feb-4 Jul 1942

• DeRidder Army Airbase, Louisiana, 26 Jul 1942
• Biggs Field, Texas, 26 Sep 1942
• Abilene Army Airfield, Texas, 28 Jun 1943
• Esler Army Airfield, Louisiana, 13 Sep 1943
• Birmingham Army Airfield, Alabama, 14-30 Nov 1943
• Buckley Field, Colorado 30 Jun 1946
• Clovis AFB (later Cannon AFB), New Mexico, 12 Apr 1951
• Buckley Field, Colorado, 1 Jan 1953
• Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, 7 February 1961
• Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, 3 May 1968
• Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, 30 April 1969
• Buckley Air National Guard Base, 1991
• Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, 2000-Present

Aircraft

• In addition to O-2, c. 1927-1934
• Included JN-4, PT-1, BT-1, O-17, and O-38 during period 1924-1935
• Thomas-Morse O-19, 1935-1939
• North American O-47, 1938-1943
• P-39 Aircobra, 1942-1943
• O-49 Vigilant, 1941-1943
• P-40 Warhawk, 1942-1943
• L-4 Grasshopper, 1942-1943

• F-51D Mustang, 1946-1953
• F-80C Shooting Star, 1953-1958
• F-86E Sabre, 1958-1960
• F-86L Sabre Interceptor, 1960-1961
• F-100C/F Super Sabre, 1961-1971
• F-100D/F Super Sabre, 1971-1974
• A-7D/K Corsair II, 1974-1992
• F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1992-Present

See also

• List of American Aero Squadrons
• List of United States Army National Guard Observation Squadrons

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5

External links

• 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard