122d Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The 122d Fighter Wing is an Indiana Air National Guard
fighter unit, part of the United States Air Force
. It is located at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station
in Fort Wayne
, Indiana
.
, in a national emergency, the 122d FW may be ordered to active duty by the President of the United States. The primary federal mission of the 122d FW is to achieve and maintain the level of operational readiness that will provide trained and equipped combat-ready tactical units, capable of global deployment, ready for immediate integration into the active Air Force to assure air offense, air defense, or joint action with ground forces.
The 122d FW is available on orders from the Governor of Indiana to assist local authorities in the event of a disaster, disturbance or other emergency. The units of the 122d FW are capable of supporting rescue and relief operations, aiding in recovery from natural disaster, along with protecting the citizens of Indiana and their property.
was a direct outgrowth of the 113th Observation Squadron, which flew the Curtis OX-2 "Jenny" biplane near Kokomo, Indiana. From 1927 to 1939, aircraft conversions included the 0-1, 0-2, 0-38 (the last of the biplanes), and just before World War II, 0-47’s, a three place mid-wing observation monoplane.
On 9 December 1946, the 122d Tactical Fighter Group (TFG) was formed at Stout Army Air Field
, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was assigned the P-51 Mustang
. On 10 November 1947, federal recognition was granted to the 113th Fighter Squadron at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana, under the command of Major William R. Sefton. Flying the Mustang, the unit was federally activated during the Korean War
from 1951-1952.
In 1954, the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing, Headquarters, Air Base Group, Tactical Hospital, and Maintenance and Supply Group were transferred to Baer Field. The unit’s first jet aircraft, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, was assigned in September 1954. The jet era continued with the conversion to the F-86 Sabrejet eighteen months later, and in January 1958, the Republic F-84 Thunderstreak gave the 122 TFW a new dimension for the next thirteen years.
The unit was again federally activated from October 1961 to August 1962, assigned to the 17th Air Force at Chambley, France, during the Berlin Crisis
. By 1966, the Wing had three fighter groups under its command: the 122d Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Wayne; the 181st Tactical Fighter Group, Terre Haute, Indiana; and the 180th Tactical Fighter Group, Toledo, Ohio. The 180th was later replaced by the 188th Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Soon after, the 149th Tactical Fighter Group, Kelly Air Force Base
, Texas, became a part of the Wing.
In June 1971, the unit converted to the F-100 Super Sabre
. In 1976, the unit participated in its first Red Flag Exercise and also deployed overseas to RAF Lakenheath
, England. The F-4C Phantom II arrived on 18 November 1979, and the unit flew this new aircraft to Balikesir, Turkey in 1983 for exercise "Coronet Crown," and once again in 1986 for exercise "Coronet Cherokee." In 1989, the Hoosiers again deployed to Southwest Asia for exercise "Coronet Brave" in conjunction with "Bright Star," a large NATO exercise. The unit continued its standard of excellence by supporting Desert Shield and Desert Storm with deployments to Saudi Arabia by the Security Police, January through June 1991, and to Tyndall Air Force Base
, Florida, by the Tactical Hospital in September/October 1991.
On 17 July 1991, the unit entered the high-tech jet age with the arrival of the first four F-16C Fighting Falcons from Hahn Air Base
, Germany. Twenty additional aircraft were received: twelve more from Hahn Air Base, seven from Shaw Air Force Base
, South Carolina, and one from McConnell Air Force Base
, Kansas. In 1992, the 122 TFW was redesignated the 122d Fighter Wing (122 FW). The same year, as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 122 FW's gaining command, Tactical Air Command
(TAC) was inactivated and replaced by the newly-established Air Combat Command
(ACC). In the Fall of 1992, the 122 FW completed its conversion to the General Dynamics F-16C/D aircraft and finalized acceptance of the new Pratt & Whitney 220E engine.
In February 1993, the 122 FW successfully completed its first overseas deployment with the F-16C aircraft. The exercise, "Coronet Avenger," took place in Egypt, and served as a training exercise, testing the capability of the unit to deploy and operate at an overseas location.
Fiscal Year 1994 saw the 122 FW participate in various humanitarian relief efforts throughout the world. Members of the Base Hospital participated in Operation Sea Signal
, as part of the Air National Guard
’s effort to support Haitian refugees at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In support of the Humanitarian Civic Aid Program
, our Civil Engineering Squadron helped construct a fire station in Taos, New Mexico and a medical clinic in Pacara, Argentina. Members from various sections of the unit rotated through the Persian Gulf Region and volunteers worked daily throughout the continent to eliminate the country’s drug problems.
Pursuant to BRAC 2005, the 122 FW converted from the F-16 aircraft and the mutirole fighter mission to the A-10 Thunderbolt II
aircraft and close air support mission, said transition being completed in 2010.
During Fiscal Year 1996, the 122 FW was involved in a critical series of rigorous exercises designed to determine our operational readiness in mobility and war fighting capabilities. The 122 FW completed the Operational Readiness Inspection in September 1996 with outstanding results.
**122d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Air Defense Command)
Indiana Air National Guard
The Indiana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is, along with the Indiana Army National Guard, an element of the Indiana National Guard.-Mission:...
fighter unit, part of the United States Air Force
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...
. It is located at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station
Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station
Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Fort Wayne International Airport, Indiana. It is located south-southwest of Fort Wayne, Indiana....
in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Overview
A unit of the United States Air ForceUnited 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...
, in a national emergency, the 122d FW may be ordered to active duty by the President of the United States. The primary federal mission of the 122d FW is to achieve and maintain the level of operational readiness that will provide trained and equipped combat-ready tactical units, capable of global deployment, ready for immediate integration into the active Air Force to assure air offense, air defense, or joint action with ground forces.
The 122d FW is available on orders from the Governor of Indiana to assist local authorities in the event of a disaster, disturbance or other emergency. The units of the 122d FW are capable of supporting rescue and relief operations, aiding in recovery from natural disaster, along with protecting the citizens of Indiana and their property.
Units
- 163d Operations Group (Tail code formerly "FW" (F-16), now "IN" (A-10)
- 163d Fighter Squadron, Transitioning from F-16C Falcons to A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft
- 122d Operations Support Flight
- 122d Maintenance Group
- 122d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 122d Maintenance Squadron
- 122d Maintenance Operations Flight
- 122d Mission Support Group
- 122d Civil Engineering Squadron
- 122d Security Forces Squadron
- 122d Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 122d Mission Support Flight
- 122d Communications Flight
- 122d Services Flight
- 122d Medical Group
History
The Indiana Air National GuardIndiana Air National Guard
The Indiana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is, along with the Indiana Army National Guard, an element of the Indiana National Guard.-Mission:...
was a direct outgrowth of the 113th Observation Squadron, which flew the Curtis OX-2 "Jenny" biplane near Kokomo, Indiana. From 1927 to 1939, aircraft conversions included the 0-1, 0-2, 0-38 (the last of the biplanes), and just before World War II, 0-47’s, a three place mid-wing observation monoplane.
On 9 December 1946, the 122d Tactical Fighter Group (TFG) was formed at Stout Army Air Field
Stout Army Air Field
Stout Army Air Field is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It serves as the Joint Forces Headquarters of the Indiana National Guard.-History:...
, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was assigned the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
. On 10 November 1947, federal recognition was granted to the 113th Fighter Squadron at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana, under the command of Major William R. Sefton. Flying the Mustang, the unit was federally activated during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
from 1951-1952.
In 1954, the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing, Headquarters, Air Base Group, Tactical Hospital, and Maintenance and Supply Group were transferred to Baer Field. The unit’s first jet aircraft, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, was assigned in September 1954. The jet era continued with the conversion to the F-86 Sabrejet eighteen months later, and in January 1958, the Republic F-84 Thunderstreak gave the 122 TFW a new dimension for the next thirteen years.
The unit was again federally activated from October 1961 to August 1962, assigned to the 17th Air Force at Chambley, France, during the Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
. By 1966, the Wing had three fighter groups under its command: the 122d Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Wayne; the 181st Tactical Fighter Group, Terre Haute, Indiana; and the 180th Tactical Fighter Group, Toledo, Ohio. The 180th was later replaced by the 188th Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Soon after, the 149th Tactical Fighter Group, Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Field Annex and is a former United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas. In 2001, the runway and land west of the runway became "Kelly Field Annex" and control of it was transferred to the adjacent Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio...
, Texas, became a part of the Wing.
In June 1971, the unit converted to the F-100 Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
. In 1976, the unit participated in its first Red Flag Exercise and also deployed overseas to RAF Lakenheath
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Lakenheath, is a Royal Air Force military airbase near Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. Although an RAF station, it hosts United States Air Force units and personnel...
, England. The F-4C Phantom II arrived on 18 November 1979, and the unit flew this new aircraft to Balikesir, Turkey in 1983 for exercise "Coronet Crown," and once again in 1986 for exercise "Coronet Cherokee." In 1989, the Hoosiers again deployed to Southwest Asia for exercise "Coronet Brave" in conjunction with "Bright Star," a large NATO exercise. The unit continued its standard of excellence by supporting Desert Shield and Desert Storm with deployments to Saudi Arabia by the Security Police, January through June 1991, and to Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt Frank Benjamin Tyndall...
, Florida, by the Tactical Hospital in September/October 1991.
On 17 July 1991, the unit entered the high-tech jet age with the arrival of the first four F-16C Fighting Falcons from Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base was a frontline NATO facility in Germany for over 40 years during the Cold War...
, Germany. Twenty additional aircraft were received: twelve more from Hahn Air Base, seven from Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina, and one from McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both Air Force pilots and World War II...
, Kansas. In 1992, the 122 TFW was redesignated the 122d Fighter Wing (122 FW). The same year, as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 122 FW's gaining command, Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical 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...
(TAC) was inactivated and replaced by the newly-established 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 ....
(ACC). In the Fall of 1992, the 122 FW completed its conversion to the General Dynamics F-16C/D aircraft and finalized acceptance of the new Pratt & Whitney 220E engine.
In February 1993, the 122 FW successfully completed its first overseas deployment with the F-16C aircraft. The exercise, "Coronet Avenger," took place in Egypt, and served as a training exercise, testing the capability of the unit to deploy and operate at an overseas location.
Fiscal Year 1994 saw the 122 FW participate in various humanitarian relief efforts throughout the world. Members of the Base Hospital participated in Operation Sea Signal
Operation Sea Signal
Operation Sea Signal was a United States Military humanitarian operation in the Caribbean in response to an influx of Cuban and Haitian migrants attempting to gain asylum in the United States. As a result, the migrants became refugees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The operation took place from...
, as part of the 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...
’s effort to support Haitian refugees at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In support of the Humanitarian Civic Aid Program
Civic action program
A civic action program also known as civic action project is a type of operation designed to assist an area by using the capabilities and resources of a military force or civilian organization to conduct long-term programs or short-term projects...
, our Civil Engineering Squadron helped construct a fire station in Taos, New Mexico and a medical clinic in Pacara, Argentina. Members from various sections of the unit rotated through the Persian Gulf Region and volunteers worked daily throughout the continent to eliminate the country’s drug problems.
Pursuant to BRAC 2005, the 122 FW converted from the F-16 aircraft and the mutirole fighter mission to the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
aircraft and close air support mission, said transition being completed in 2010.
During Fiscal Year 1996, the 122 FW was involved in a critical series of rigorous exercises designed to determine our operational readiness in mobility and war fighting capabilities. The 122 FW completed the Operational Readiness Inspection in September 1996 with outstanding results.
Lineage
- 358th Fighter Group358th Fighter GroupThe 358th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Second Air Force stationed at La Junta Army Air Field , Colorado. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945....
, 20 December 1942-7 November 1945 - Allotted to Indiana Air National Guard as 122d Fighter Group, 24 May 1946
- Extended federal recognition and activated on 9 December 1946
- Federalized and placed on active duty, 10 February 1951
- Re-designated: 122d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 23 March 1951
- Inactivated 7 February 1952
- Reactivated and Re-designated: 122d Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 November 1952
- 122d Tactical Fighter Group, 1954
- 122d Fighter Group, 1992
- 122d Fighter Wing, 1995-Present
Assignments
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
(ADC), 9 December 1946 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ADC), 1 July 1948 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ConAC), 1 December 1948 - 30th Air Division (ConAC), 1 February 1950
- 30th Air Division (ADC), 1 January 1951
- Federalized and placed on active duty under Air Defense Command, 10 February 1951
-
- 122d Fighter-Interceptor Wing**, 10 February 1951-7 February 1952
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(TAC), 1 November 1952 - 835th Air Division835th Air DivisionThe 835th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at McConnell AFB, Kansas...
(TAC), 1 July 1964 - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(TAC), 1 July 1971 - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(ACC), 1 June 1992-Present
- Ninth Air Force
- 122d Fighter-Interceptor Wing**, 10 February 1951-7 February 1952
**122d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Air Defense Command)
- Federalized by the Air National Guard, 10 February 1951 at Stout Field, Indiana
- Assigned to: Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense ForceThe Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
- Moved to: Baer Field, Indiana, 1 May 1951
- Reassigned to: Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 1 December 1951 - Inactivated 7 February 1952
Stations
- Stout Field, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, (1946–1954) - Fort Wayne Air National Guard StationFort Wayne Air National Guard StationFort Wayne Air National Guard Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Fort Wayne International Airport, Indiana. It is located south-southwest of Fort Wayne, Indiana....
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(1954–present)
Aircraft
- A-10 Thunderbolt IIA-10 Thunderbolt IIThe Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
(2010-present) - F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1991–2010)
- F-4E Phantom II (1986–1991)
- F-4C Phantom II (1979–1986)
- F-100D Super Sabre (1971–1979)
- F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
(1964–1971)
- RF-84F Thunderflash (1962–1964)
- F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
(1958–1962) - F-86A Sabre (1956–1958)
- F-80C Shooting Star (1954–1956)
- P-51D Mustang (1947–1954)