144th Fighter Wing: Difference between revisions
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* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4. |
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4. |
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* Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0 |
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* [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).] |
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* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/144fw.htm 144th Fighter [email protected]] |
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* [http://www.144fw.ang.af.mil/history/index.asp 144th Fighter Wing website history page] |
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Revision as of 10:23, 22 October 2012
144th Fighter Wing | |
---|---|
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[1] |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | 18 F-16C Fighting Falcon |
Trainer | 1 F-16D Fighting Falcon |
Transport | 1 C-26A Metroliner |
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.[2] 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 composed of the following units:
- 144th Operations Group
- 144th Maintenance Group
- 144th Mission Support Group
- 144th Medical Group.
History
World War II
Activated in October 1943 as the 372d Fighter Group at Hamilton Field, California. During World War II, the squadron was an Operational Training Unit (OTU), equipped with second-line P-39 Aircobras and P-40 Warhawks. Its mission was to train newly-graduated pilots from Training Command in combat tactics and maneuvers before being assigned to their permanent combat unit. Initially assigned to IV Fighter Command, then transferred to III Fighter Command in 1944, being re-equipped with P-51D Mustangs. It took part in air-ground maneuvers and demonstrations, participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers in the summer of 1944 and in similar activities in the US until after V-J Day.
Inactivated in November 1945.
California Air National Guard
The wartime 372d Fighter Group was re-activated and re-designated as the 144th Fighter Group, and was allotted to the California Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, and was extended federal recognition on 2 June 1948 by the National Guard Bureau. The 144th Fighter Group was bestowed to the history, honors, and colors of the 372d Fighter Group. The 144th FG was assigned to the CA ANG 61st Fighter Wing. It was assigned the 194th Fighter Squadron, equipped with F-51D Mustangs as its operational squadron. During its early years with the F-51D, the unit earned prominence as one of the Air Force's most respected aerial gunnery competitors.
Air Defense
The 194th Fighter Squadron (194 FS) is a unit of the California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. The 194th is equipped with the F-16C Fighting Falcon.
In 1952 the 144th was transferred from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Air Defense Command (ADC), and the 194th was re-equipped with the long-distance F-51H Mustang being used as an interceptor. In June 1953, while flying the F-51H, the unit qualified for the first all-jet, worldwide gunnery meet. Using borrowed F-86A Sabre jets, the 194th, which represented the Air National Guard, placed fifth in competition. On 1 November 1954, the 194th accomplished the transition from the piston-engine, propeller driven F-51H to its first jet aircraft, the F-86A. At the same time, the 194th relocated to Fresno, followed by the wing in 1957. On 7 July 1955, the 144th was re-designated as the 194th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, a designation kept by the squadron for the next 37 years.
The 194th continued to fly the F-86A until 31 March 1958. On April 1, 1958, the transition was made to the F-86L, which was flown until 30 June 1964. On July 1, 1964, the 194th began flying the F-102 and continued flying this aircraft until 24 July 1974. On 25 July 1974, the 194th brought the F-106 into service, and continued to fly this aircraft until 31 December 1983. On 1 October 1978 Aerospace Defense Command was inactivated, its units being re-assigned to Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). which was established compatible to a Numbered Air Force under TAC. TAC replaced the aging F-106s on 1 January 1984 with F-4D Phantom IIs, being used in the air defense interceptor mission.
The 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing started receiving their first F-16A Fighting Falcons on 1 October 1989. These were of the block 15 type, replacing the F-4D in the air defense and attack roles. The block 15 airframes weren’t exactly suited to the dedicated air defense mission the squadron was tasked to. This was fixed with the Air Defense Fighter (ADF) upgrade these aircraft received during 1990.
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. On 1 June 1992, the 144th FW was reassigned to Air Combat Command.
During this time the 194th FS also had an alert detachment at George AFB. This base was closed in 1992 due to the overall downsizing after the Cold War and the alert detachment moved to March Air Force Base. In 1995 the squadron transitioned to the more F-16C Fighting Falcon block 25 aircraft.
After having flown for 11 years with the block 25 airframes, a number of those came to the end of their operational lifespan. It was therefore decided that the airframes of the 194th FS were to be replaced with F-16C Block 32 aircraft. The conversion to these block 32 models started in December of 2006 and was gradually completed by the end of 2007.
Lineage
- Constituted as 372d Fighter Group on 12 October 1943
- Activated on 28 October 1943
- Re-designated 372d Fighter-Bomber Group in April 1944
- Re-designated 372d Fighter Group in June 1944
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945
- Re-designated 144th Fighter Group and allotted to California ANG on 24 May 1946.
- Extended federal recognition on 2 June 1948
- Status changed from Group to Wing, 31 October 1950
- Re-designated: 144th Fighter Wing, 31 October 1950
- Re-designated: 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1 October 1952
- Re-designated: 144th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 December 1952
- Re-designated: 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 7 July 1955
- Re-designated: 144th Fighter Wing, 16 March 1992
Assignments
- IV Fighter Command, 28 October 1943
- III Fighter Command, 29 March 1944-7 November 1945
- 61st Fighter Wing, 2 June 1948
- California Air National Guard, 31 October 1950
- Gained by: Tactical Air Command
- Gained by: 28th Air Division, Air Defense Command, 1 October 1952
- Gained by: San Francisco Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960
- Gained by: 26th Air Division, Air Defense Command, 1 April 1966
- Gained by: 26th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, 1 January 1970
- Gained by: Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC), 1 October 1979
- Gained by: First Air Force, Tactical Air Command, 9 December 1985
- Gained by: Northwest Air Defense Sector (NWADS), 1 July 1987
- Gained by: Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), 1 October 1997-Present
Components
- 144th Operations Group, 16 March 1992-Present
- 192d Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor) Squadron, 25 June 1948-19 April 1958 (Nevada ANG)
- 194th Fighter (later Fighter-Interceptor, Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor, Fighter) Squadron, 2 June 1948-16 March 1992
- Assigned to 144 OG, 16 March 1992-Present
- 407th Fighter Squadron: 15 October 1943-7 November 1945
- 408th Fighter Squadron: 15 October 1943-7 November 1945
- 409th Fighter Squadron: 15 October 1943-7 November 1945
Stations
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Aircraft
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References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ "Colonel Sami D. Said". Air National Guard. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
- 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).
- 144th Fighter [email protected]
- 144th Fighter Wing website history page