144th Fighter Wing

144th Fighter Wing
144th Fighter Wing emblem
Active	1943 - Present
Country	US
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Fighter Support
Part of	California Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Fresno Air National Guard Base, California
Commanders
Current commander	Col Sami Said
Aircraft flown
Fighter	18 F-16C Fighting Falcon
Trainer	1 F-16D Fighting Falcon
Transport	1 C-26A Metroliner

A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons fly during a sortie for the weapons systems evaluation program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

The 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

Mission

The 144th Fighter Wing's mission is to provide air defense protection for California from the Mexican border to Oregon utilizing the F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter aircraft. The 144th also supports the nation's Counter Drug Program and responds to state emergencies when requested by the Governor of California. The wing's current inventory of aircraft includes 18 F-16Cs, one F-16D, a two place fighter trainer, and one C-26A transport.

Units

The 144th Fighter Wing is comprised of the following units:

• 144th Operations Group

194th Fighter Squadron

• 144th Maintenance Group
• 144th Mission Support Group
• 144th Medical Group.

History

Prior to the formation of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of service, the US Army Air Corps first established the Air Corps Ferrying Command on 29 May 1941. Redesignated several times, it became the 1 Troop Carrier Command in July 1942 and trained troop carrier organizations and personnel. Disbanded on 4 Nov 1945. One of its Troop Carrier Wings was the 61st Troop Carrier Wing,active from 1943-1945. Constituted 5 Jun 1943 and activated on 13 Jun. Trained groups, troop carrier replacement personnel, and glider crews. Inactivated on 4 Oct 1945. Redesignated 61st Fighter Wing. The 61st Fighter Wing was allotted to the California Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.

The origin of the 144th Fighter Wing dates back to 4 April 1948, barely six months after the formation of the Air National Guard in September 1947. On that date, the 61st Fighter Wing received federal recognition at NAS Alameda, Calif., followed by activation of the 194th Fighter Squadron on 25 June 1948. The 61st Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 144th Fighter Bomber Wing on 1 November 1950.

F-51D-30-NA Mustang 44-74825 flying over Northern California, 1948

The first aircraft assigned as of June 1948 included two T-6s, one B-26, one C-47, one L-17, and two borrowed P-51s. Shortly after the designation P-51 (P for pursuit) was changed to F-51 (F for fighter) and the existing F designator for photographic reconnaissance aircraft was dropped due to a new designation scheme throughout the USAF. Technically, they were P-51s when the 144th received them and changed to F-51s while the 144th flew them. The P-51D and later the P-51H were flown from 1948 until 31 October 1954. During its early years with the P-51D/H, the unit earned prominence as one of the Air Force's most respected aerial gunnery competitors. In June 1953, while still flying the P-51, the unit qualified for the first all-jet, worldwide gunnery meet. Using borrowed F-86A Sabre jets, the 144th, which represented the Air National Guard, placed fifth in competition.

On 1 November 1954, the 194th accomplished the transition from the P-51 to its first jet aircraft, the F-86A. At the same time, the 194th relocated to Fresno followed by the 144th three years later. On 7 July 1955, the Wing was redesignated as the 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing, with the 194th becoming the 194th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The site of the Fresno Air National Guard Base has been used for military aviation since World War II, when it was known as Hammer Field.

The 144th continued to fly the F-86A from 1954 to 31 March 1958. On 1 April 1958, the transition was made to the F-86L, which was flown until 30 June 1964. On 1 July 1964, the 144th began flying the F-102 and continued flying this aircraft until 24 July 1974. On 25 July 1974, the 144th brought the F-106 into service, and continued to fly this aircraft until 31 December 1983. On the first of January 1984, the F-4D became the wing's new aircraft, and was flown until 30 September 1989.

In 1979, the 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing was reassigned from the Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) to the Tactical Air Command (TAC). On 1 October 1989, the wing began a new era by completing the transition to the air defense version of the F-16A Fighting Falcon, the Air Force's most advanced tactical fighter. 144 FW continued to fly this aircraft until September 1995, when the transition to the newer F-16C became complete. New engines and upgraded avionics make the F-16C among the most potent air defense weapons in the world. The wing's inventory of aircraft includes 18 F-16Cs, and one RC-26B aircraft.

In 1992, the 144th FW was reassigned to Air Combat Command. Effective 16 March 1992, the 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing was redesignated as the 144th Fighter Wing (144th FW), with all related Fighter Interceptor Groups and Squadrons becoming Fighter Groups and Fighter Squadrons.

The 144th Fighter Wing is composed of the Headquarters Group and four subordinate units: Maintenance Group, which consists of the 144th Maintenance Squadron, 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and 144th Maintenance Operations Flight; Operations Group, which consists of the 194th Fighter Squadron and 144th Operations Flight; 144 Mission Support Group, which consists of 144th Civil Engineer Squadron, 144th Security Forces Squadron, 144th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 144th Communications Flight, 144th Mission Support Flight, and 144th Services Flight; and the 144th Medical Group.

Throughout its history the 144th has earned a number of honors and distinctions. The wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1967, 1973, 1978, 1988 and 1994. Other honors include winning the William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons meet at Tyndall AFB in Florida, and numerous maintenance and safety awards. During a Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB in 1999, a 144th Fighter Wing four-ship flight achieved simulated kills on four actual MiG-29 aircraft. These were the first-ever MiG-29 kills in a Red Flag exercise.

The lineage of the 144th Fighter Wing all rests under 1st United States Air Force, activated on 18 December 1940.

Assignments

Major Command

• Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992 – present)
• Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1972–1992)
• Air National Guard/Aerospace Defense Command (1968–1972)
• Air National Guard/Air Defense Command (1948–1968)

Previous designations

USAF

• 144th Fighter Wing (1992 – present)
• 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing (1955–1992)
• 144th Fighter Bomber Wing (1950–1955)
• 61st Fighter Wing (1947–1950)

USAAF

• 61st Troop Carrier Wing (5 June 1943 – 4 Nov 1945)
• 1 Troop Carrier Command (Jul 1942 - 4 Nov 1945)
• Air Transport Command (30 April 1942)
• Army Air Forces Ferrying Command (31 March 1942)
• Army Air Forces Ferry Command (9 March 1942)
• Army Air Corps Ferrying Command (29 May 1941)

Groups and Squadrons assigned

• 144th Operations Group (144 OG)
  • 194th Fighter Squadron (194 FS)
  • 144th Operations Support Flight (144 OSF)
• 144th Maintenance Group (144 MXG)
  • 144th Maintenance Squadron (144 MXS)
  • 144th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (144 AMS)
  • 144th Maintenance Operations Flight (144 MOF)
• 144th Mission Support Group (144 MSG)
  • 144th Security Forces Squadron (144 SFS)
  • 144th Civil Engineering Squadron (144 CES)
  • 144th Logistics Readiness Squadron (144 LRS)
  • 144th Communications Flight (144 CF)
  • 144th Mission Support Flight (144 MSF)
  • 144th Base Services Flight (144 BSF)
  • 144th Base Contracting Office (144 BCO)
• 144th Medical Group (144 MDG)

Bases stationed

• Fresno Yosemite International Airport / Fresno ANGB (1957 – present)
  • George Air Force Base (Detachment 1) (Prior to 1992)
  • March Air Reserve Base (Detachment 1) (1999 – present)
• Hayward Air National Guard Base (1949–1957)
• Naval Air Station Alameda (1947–1949)

Aircraft operated

• RC-26B Metroliner (1995 – present)
• F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1995 – present)
• F-16A Fighting Falcon (1989–1995)
• F-4D Phantom II (1983–1989)
• F-106 Delta Dart (1974–1983)
• F-102 Delta Dagger (194-1974)
• F-86L Sabre (1958–1964)
• F-86A Sabre (1954–1958)
• P-51 Mustang (1948–1954)
• L-17 Navion (1948–1954)
• C-47 Skytrain (1948–1954)
• B-26 Marauder (1948–1954)
• T-6 Texan (1948–1954)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

External links

• Official website of the 144th Fighter Wing
• 144th Fighter Wing - GlobalSecurity.org