114th Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 114th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard
fighter unit located at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota
.
To provide personnel and resources to protect life and property, and to preserve peace, order and public safety in the State of South Dakota.
To participate in local, state, and national programs that add value to the communities of America.
as the 175th Fighter Squadron at Sioux Falls, and except for brief tours overseas and at Ellsworth Air Force Base
in western South Dakota, has been home-based at Sioux Falls for its entire life. The Wing is an integral part of the City's economy and society.
The unit (then the 114th Tactical Fighter Group) received the first of its current F-16C/D fighters in August 1991 with the official conversion from the A-7
to the F-16 occurring on January 1, 1992. The unit was redesignated as the 114th Fighter Group on March 16, 1992 and became a part of the newly formed Air Combat Command
on June 1, 1992.
The unit was one of the first four Air National Guard units tasked to deploy in support of Operation Provide Comfort II based out of Incirlik AB, Turkey. Combat patrol missions were flown over the northern "No Fly" zone of Iraq from December 1993 to January 1994. The 114th Fighter Group was redesignated as the 114th Fighter Wing in October 1995. The unit subsequently supported Operation Northern Watch, based out of Turkey in 1995 and 2002, and Operation South Watch based out of Kuwait in 1998 and Saudi Arabia in 2001. The Fighting Lobos were also deployed to Belgium, Singapore, the Netherlands Antilles and Israel.
A new chapter was opened in the history of the Air National Guard with the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001. In addition to the unit's ongoing tasking as part of the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF), unit members were also activated to support Operation Noble Eagle within the United States along with Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom abroad. Over two-thirds of the unit's 1,000 members have actively supported the Global War on Terrorism either at home or abroad. Mobilization orders were received for members of the 114th Security Forces Squadron, Civil Engineering Squadron, Maintenance Squadron (Munitions) and Logistics Readiness Squadron (Transportation). Unit members deployed to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Cyprus, Pakistan, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Spain, France and Germany. Further deployments are expected.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 114th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
fighter unit located at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Mission
To provide combat capable aircraft, air crew, support personnel, and equipment to augment existing active forces during times of crisis, national emergencies or war.To provide personnel and resources to protect life and property, and to preserve peace, order and public safety in the State of South Dakota.
To participate in local, state, and national programs that add value to the communities of America.
History
The unit was organized in 1947 by Joe FossJoe Foss
Joseph Jacob "Joe" Foss was the leading fighter ace of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and a 1943 recipient of the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign...
as the 175th Fighter Squadron at Sioux Falls, and except for brief tours overseas and at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota just north of Box Elder, South Dakota....
in western South Dakota, has been home-based at Sioux Falls for its entire life. The Wing is an integral part of the City's economy and society.
The unit (then the 114th Tactical Fighter Group) received the first of its current F-16C/D fighters in August 1991 with the official conversion from the A-7
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
to the F-16 occurring on January 1, 1992. The unit was redesignated as the 114th Fighter Group on March 16, 1992 and became a part of the newly formed Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
on June 1, 1992.
The unit was one of the first four Air National Guard units tasked to deploy in support of Operation Provide Comfort II based out of Incirlik AB, Turkey. Combat patrol missions were flown over the northern "No Fly" zone of Iraq from December 1993 to January 1994. The 114th Fighter Group was redesignated as the 114th Fighter Wing in October 1995. The unit subsequently supported Operation Northern Watch, based out of Turkey in 1995 and 2002, and Operation South Watch based out of Kuwait in 1998 and Saudi Arabia in 2001. The Fighting Lobos were also deployed to Belgium, Singapore, the Netherlands Antilles and Israel.
A new chapter was opened in the history of the Air National Guard with the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001. In addition to the unit's ongoing tasking as part of the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF), unit members were also activated to support Operation Noble Eagle within the United States along with Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom abroad. Over two-thirds of the unit's 1,000 members have actively supported the Global War on Terrorism either at home or abroad. Mobilization orders were received for members of the 114th Security Forces Squadron, Civil Engineering Squadron, Maintenance Squadron (Munitions) and Logistics Readiness Squadron (Transportation). Unit members deployed to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Cyprus, Pakistan, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Spain, France and Germany. Further deployments are expected.
Assignments
- Operation Provide ComfortOperation Provide ComfortOperation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
- Maple FlagMAPLE FLAGMAPLE FLAG is an advanced aerial combat training exercise hosted at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.Established in 1978, MAPLE FLAG is one of the largest of such exercises in the world, as it makes use of the extensive Cold Lake Air Weapons Range which is co-existent with CFB Cold Lake...
- Operation Southern WatchOperation Southern WatchOperation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
- Operation Coronet NighthawkOperation Coronet NighthawkOperation Coronet Nighthawk was a U.S. anti-narcotic smuggling air patrol operation. Formerly carried out from Howard Air Force Base in Panama, the operation was moved to Hato, at Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles from April 1999...
Major Command/Gaining Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(1992–Present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1970–1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Defense Command (1950–1970)
Previous designations
- 114th Fighter Wing (1995–Present)
- 114th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
- 114th Tactical Fighter Group (1970–1992)
- 114th Fighter Group (1960–1970)
- 114th Fighter Interceptor Group (1956–1960)
Squadrons assigned
- 114th Maintenance Group
- 114th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 114th Maintenance Squadron
- 114th Component Maintenance Flight
- 114th Equipment Maintenance Flight
- 114th Maintenance Operations Flight
- 114th Operations Group
- 175th Fighter Squadron175th Fighter SquadronThe 175th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 114th Fighter Wing.-History:* Constituted 387th Fighter Squadron on 27 Apr 1943...
(1992–Present) - 175th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1970–1992)
- 175th Fighter Squadron (1960–1970)
- 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1956–1960)
- 175th Fighter Squadron
- 114th Mission Support Group
- 114th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 114th Communications Flight
- 114th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 114th Mission Support Flight
- 114th Security Forces Squadron
- 114th Services Flight
- 114th Medical Group
Aircraft Operated
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1991–Present)
- A-7D Corsair II (1977–1991)
- F-100D Super Sabre (1970–1977)
- F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
(1960–1970) - F-89 ScorpionF-89 ScorpionThe Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...
(1958–1961) - F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
(1954–1958) - F-51 Mustang (1946–1954)