120th Fighter Squadron: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎Lineage: added unit emblem
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎References: added refernces
Line 196: Line 196:
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* 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
* 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
* [http://www.140wg.ang.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15652 140th Fighter Wing factsheet]
* Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
* [http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., ''A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980'', Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).]
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


Revision as of 12:06, 24 September 2012

120th Fighter Squadron
120th Fighter Squadron Squadron Emblem
Activesince 28 August 1917
CountryUnited States
BranchAir National Guard
TypeSquadron
RoleFighter
Part ofColorado Air National Guard
Garrison/HQBuckley 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
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
A Colorado ANG 120th Fighter Squadron F-16C 87-279

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

Origins

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

On 27 June 1923 the 120th Aero Observation Squadron, 45th Division, Aviation was mustered into service as part of the Colorado Army National Guard. Initially composed of eight officers and 50 enlisted members, the unit flew Curtis JN-4Es (better known as Jennies) - an aircraft which proved to be unsuitable for flying at Denver elevations. One year later, the 120th began flying out of Lowry Field. The brand new airfield was named in honor of 2nd Lt. Francis B. Lowry who was shot down and killed near Crepion, France in 1918 while on a photographic mission.

Nonetheless, the men of the 120th persevered flying the Jennies just before sunrise and after sunset, when the air was less turbulent. In later years, they would transition through a variety of more powerful observation aircraft such as the Douglas 0-2, Consolidated 0-17, and Douglas 0-38. The unit eventually started flying the 0-47 - a three-seat, all metal, single-engine aircraft - that took the unit into World War II.

Mobilization for World War II took place on January 6, 1941, 11 months prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The unit, then 19 officers and 116 enlisted members, moved to Biggs Field, Texas

During World War II the squadron supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. Patrolled the Mexican border from March–July 1942. Disbanded on 30 Nov 1943.

Colorado Air National Guard

The wartime 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then re-designated as the 120th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Colorado Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Buckley Field (A sub-base of Lowry AFB), Colorado and was extended federal recognition on 30 Jun 1946 by the National Guard Bureau. The 120th Fighter Squadron was bestowed the history, honors, and colors of the previous 120th TRS.

The 146th Fighter Squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to obtain federal recognition. It squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and was allocated to the 140th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Wing, Colorado Air National Guard. As part of the Continental Air Command Fourth Air Force, the unit trained for tactical fighter missions and air to air combat.

In 1947, shortly after World War II, the 120th TFS organized an aerial demonstration team called the "Minutemen." This team was federally recognition in 1956, making it the first and only Air National Guard precision aerial demonstration team. Headed by Col. Walt Williams, the team performed in more than 100 air shows for more than three million people in 47 states and five foreign countries before being disbanded in favor of a fledgling team of Air Force pilots, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Korean War activation

As a result of the Korean War, the 120th and its parent, the 140th Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty on 1 April 1951. The unit was ordered to the new Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, which arrived in October 1951. The federalized 140th was a composite organization of activated Air National Guard units, composed of the 120th, the 187th Fighter Squadron (Wyoming ANG) and the 190th Fighter Squadron (Utah ANG). The 140th and its components were equipped with F-51D Mustangs, and were re-designated as Fighter-Bomber squadrons.

During their period of federal service, elements of the 140th FBW took part in Operation Tumbler-Snapper - 1952, a nuclear bomb test in Nevada. On 15 November 1952, the elements of the 140th returned to Air National Guard control in their respective states.

Cold War

Upon return to Colorado state control, the 120th was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with F-80C Shooting Star jets. On 1 July 1955, the squadron was re-designated as the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, with its parent 140th FIW being assigned to the 34th Air Division, Air Defense Command.

In 1958, the 140th FIW implemented the ADC Runway Alert Program, in which interceptors of the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were committed to a five-minute runway alert. In 1960 the F-86s were again replaced by the F-86L Sabre Interceptor, a day/night/all-weather aircraft designed to be integrated into the ADC SAGE interceptor direction and control system.

Tactical Air Command/Vietnam War

120th FS F-100C 54-1836 at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 1968. Note Vietnam War Tail Code "VS"
"D" Huns on the Buckley's flightline, Apr 1974
120th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 71-341, about 1988

The 140th was transferred back to Tactical Air Command in January 1961, the squadron being re-designated as the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1968, While flying the F-100C Super Sabre in Vietnam, the unit became the first guard unit activated and deployed for one year to southeast Asia. As part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Rang AB, the squadron flew primarily ground support missions, and beat back many enemy attacks on American and South Vietnamese ground units. The 140th also performed interdiction, visual and armed reconnaissance, strike assessment photography, escort, close and direct air support, and rapid reaction alert.

The 120th earned the United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the "V" device for valor during the conflict by flying over 6,000 combat missions. After returning from Vietnam, the Guard was upgraded with the D-model of the F-100 Super Sabre.

The LTV A-7D Corsair II replaced the F-100 in April 1974 and the aircraft was flown to victory as the "World Champions" in the inaugural "Gunsmoke" competition held at Nellis Air Force Base in 1981.

The 120th converted to the Lockheed-Martin F-16C Falcon in 1992 and won the Air Force Association award for the Outstanding Air National Guard Unit in 2001.

Modern era

Following the attacks on the United States on September, 11th 2001, the 120th FS assumed tasking to provide homeland defense as an integral part of Operation Noble Eagle.

Today the 120th is a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA), OCA Interdiction, Close Air Support (CAS), and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions. With the addition of the LITENING II and SNIPER targeting pod and the latest software upgrades, the 120th pilots are able to employ precision guided GPS and Laser-guided weapons with deadly accuracy.

The 120th Fighter Squadron has participated in many exercises when not deployed to support real world contingency operations as part of the United States Air Force's Total Force. These exercises include joint multi-national training with the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, TEAM SPIRIT in Korea, Tactical Fighter Weaponry in Denmark, Maple Flag in Canada, Cope Thunder in Alaska, Sentry Aloha in Hawaii, The Joint CRUZEX V Operation(Cruzeiro do sul - Southern Cross ) in Brazil in 2010, with the Brazilian Air Force, the Armée de l'Air (France Air force), and many others air forces from South America, and observers of some many other countries of the NATO (this is the most big aerial operation in the South America), and countless other exercises within the United States.

In February, 2003, the 120th FS mobilized and deployed to a still classified location in southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed with sixteen aircraft and over 30 pilots, the 120th flew over 500 combat sorties, 2500 hours and dropped over 350 precision guided weapons while successfully preventing the launch of any Theatre Ballistic Missiles in their area of responsibility.

All personnel and jets returned safely during the summer, 2003. The unit has since redeployed to Iraq in the summer of 2004, as well as during the holidays in 2007-2008, and in the Summer of 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2005, the 120th won back the "Spirit Trophy" in the Tiger Meet of the Americas Competition.[1]

Lineage

Another representation of the emblem of the squadron
120th FIS Minutemen Aerial Demonstration Team Emblem
120th/332d EFS emblem used in Iraq
  • 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
Designated: 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron* when deployed as part of Air and Space Expeditionary units.

*Note: The 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is a "dummy" designation used to refer to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command F-16 units deployed to Balad AB, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011). While the 332d designation was widely used, it is not the proper designation of the units while deployed to Balad. The 332d designation was used since most Guard/Reserve units swapped out on a more frequent basis compared to their active duty counterparts.

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References

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

  1. ^ Tiger Meet results and photo

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colorado ANG F-100s.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to F-100 Super Sabre.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=120th_Fighter_Squadron&oldid=514303740"