127th Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 127th Wing is a fighter and air refueling unit located at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
. It is part of the United States Air Force
Air Combat Command
's First Air Force
.
at Detroit-Wayne Major Airport.
361st Fighter Group
was redesignated the 127th Fighter Group and allocated to the Michigan
Air National Guard
without personnel or equipment. The 127th Fighter Group was assigned the 107th Fighter Squadron
, 171st Fighter Squadron and 172nd Fighter Squadron
as its operational components.
At this time, the 107th and 171st were based at the Detroit Airport
and the 172nd was based at Battle Creek. Initially allocated F-51H Mustang propeller-driven fighters, in the spring of 1950 the Detroit units converted to F-84B & C
jets, becoming the first units of the Michigan ANG to transition to jets.
.
, flying F-106's. In 1979 the 107th converted to the A-7D Corsair II
with a mission of fighter-bomber support of ground combat forces and limited air superiority.
The 127th distinguished itself during the period from 1 June 1983 through 31 December 1984 and was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The Air Force recognized the unit for demonstrating a high degree of combat readiness and outstanding performance in all mission support.
. The flying units, the 171st Air Refueling Squadron
which flew the KC-135T Stratotanker, and the 107th Fighter Squadron
which flew the A-10 Thunderbolt, retained their designations.
Throughout their history, the 127th and the 191st have stood ready to serve the Nation whenever they have been needed, In the post Cold War
era, the role of the Guard has increased tremendously in support of contingency and day to day operations. Both units provided support personnel for Operation Desert Storm, and the 127th Security Police Squadron was deployed to protect coalition aircraft on an air base in Egypt during the conflict. The 191st played a major part in anti-drug operations in Panama. Both units have contributed to the peace effort in Bosnia; 191st and 127th personnel prepared shipments of supplies and equipment that were airlifted on 191st C-130's and Air Force transports. The 191st also airlifted Army Guard military police personnel en route to Germany to backfill for active duty soldiers sent to Bosnia.
In 1996, air crew members and maintainers from the airlift element of the 127th Wing deployed to Germany over a period of two months to fly support shuttle missions into Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. The fighter element of the Wing took their F-16's to Singapore for training exercises with the Singapore Air Force, and then to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC '96, a multi-national maritime exercise. Early in 1997, the air lifters returned to Panama. In 1997 the wing experienced its first Operational Readiness Inspection as a combined unit. In 1997, the air lifters participated in another deployment to Panama, followed by one to Brazil, and the fighter element deployed to Southeast Asia.
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 127th Wing is a fighter and air refueling unit located at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is 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...
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 ....
's First Air Force
First Air Force
The 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....
.
Mission
The 127th's Wing's mission is to provide trained, equipped and motivated air refueling, fighter and support resources for the community, state and nation.Origins
The 107th Fighter Squadron was established in 1918 for duty in France and was mobilized in October 1940. The unit returned to federal control in September 1946 as the 107th Bombardment Squadron with the A-26A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
at Detroit-Wayne Major Airport.
127th Fighter Group
In 1948, the former United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
361st Fighter Group
361st Fighter Group
The 361st Fighter Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the European Theatre of World War II....
was redesignated the 127th Fighter Group and allocated to the Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
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...
without personnel or equipment. The 127th Fighter Group was assigned the 107th Fighter Squadron
107th Fighter Squadron
The 107th Fighter Squadron is a Michigan National Guard Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It is a part of the 127th Wing. Organized in 1925 as the Michigan National Guard's first flying unit, the squadron consisted of 20 officers and 90 enlisted men meeting weekly in a Detroit...
, 171st Fighter Squadron and 172nd Fighter Squadron
172nd Fighter Squadron
The 172d Airlift Squadron flies the C-21A. It is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 110th Airlift Wing.In 2009, the squadron was realigned from a fighter squadron to an Airlift Squadron after 60 years. The squadron has served with distinction and pride in several...
as its operational components.
At this time, the 107th and 171st were based at the Detroit Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
and the 172nd was based at Battle Creek. Initially allocated F-51H Mustang propeller-driven fighters, in the spring of 1950 the Detroit units converted to F-84B & C
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
jets, becoming the first units of the Michigan ANG to transition to jets.
127th Pilot Training Group
All three units were activated on 1 February 1951, with the Detroit units becoming the 127th Pilot Training Group stationed at Luke AFB, and the Battle Creek unit moving to Selfridge AFB for the Korean WarKorean 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...
.
127th Fighter Bomber Group
Returning to Michigan in November 1952, the 127th was redesignated as a Fighter-Bomber Group and had two units at Wayne County Airport and one at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek. Mission aircraft were F-51H, F-86E and F-89C.127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated in 1958. The Detroit units flew RF-84F's and the Battle Creek unit was equipped with RB-57's. Moving to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in 1971, both Detroit units converted to RF-101's with the Battle Creek unit changing to O-2's with a new mission as a Tactical Support Group.127th Tactical Fighter Wing
In 1973, the 127th reorganized as a Tactical Air Command gained Tactical Fighter Wing; the 107th Tactical Fighter Squadron was equipped with F-100D's. The 191st Fighter Interceptor Group received Federal Recognition and gained the 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron under the Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
, flying F-106's. In 1979 the 107th converted to the A-7D Corsair II
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...
with a mission of fighter-bomber support of ground combat forces and limited air superiority.
The 127th distinguished itself during the period from 1 June 1983 through 31 December 1984 and was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The Air Force recognized the unit for demonstrating a high degree of combat readiness and outstanding performance in all mission support.
127th Wing
The 127th Wing was established at Selfridge ANG Base on 1 April 1996, by consolidating the former 127th Fighter Wing and the 191st Airlift Group191st Airlift Group
The United States Air Force's 191st Airlift Group is an airlift unit located at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan. It is currently a group that is part of the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard...
. The flying units, the 171st Air Refueling Squadron
171st Air Refueling Squadron
The 171st Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard, flying the KC-135T Stratotanker. Its parent unit is the 127th Wing.-World War II:...
which flew the KC-135T Stratotanker, and the 107th Fighter Squadron
107th Fighter Squadron
The 107th Fighter Squadron is a Michigan National Guard Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It is a part of the 127th Wing. Organized in 1925 as the Michigan National Guard's first flying unit, the squadron consisted of 20 officers and 90 enlisted men meeting weekly in a Detroit...
which flew the A-10 Thunderbolt, retained their designations.
Throughout their history, the 127th and the 191st have stood ready to serve the Nation whenever they have been needed, In the post Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era, the role of the Guard has increased tremendously in support of contingency and day to day operations. Both units provided support personnel for Operation Desert Storm, and the 127th Security Police Squadron was deployed to protect coalition aircraft on an air base in Egypt during the conflict. The 191st played a major part in anti-drug operations in Panama. Both units have contributed to the peace effort in Bosnia; 191st and 127th personnel prepared shipments of supplies and equipment that were airlifted on 191st C-130's and Air Force transports. The 191st also airlifted Army Guard military police personnel en route to Germany to backfill for active duty soldiers sent to Bosnia.
In 1996, air crew members and maintainers from the airlift element of the 127th Wing deployed to Germany over a period of two months to fly support shuttle missions into Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. The fighter element of the Wing took their F-16's to Singapore for training exercises with the Singapore Air Force, and then to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC '96, a multi-national maritime exercise. Early in 1997, the air lifters returned to Panama. In 1997 the wing experienced its first Operational Readiness Inspection as a combined unit. In 1997, the air lifters participated in another deployment to Panama, followed by one to Brazil, and the fighter element deployed to Southeast Asia.
Distinguished Members
Among the distinguished former members of the 127th Wing is former WWII 361st Fighter Group ace Urban "Ben" Drew, who was a F-51 instructor pilot assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron in Detroit from 1947 to 1950. During WWII, while flying a P-51 named "Detroit Miss" Lt. Drew was credited with shooting down two German Me 262 jet fighters on a single mission. He was also credited with destroying the sole German BV 238 seaplane, the largest aircraft to see service during WWII.Operational Losses
- In 1958 an RF-84F of the 127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing based in Detroit crashed and was destroyed while attempting an emergency landing at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile, south of Detroit. The aircraft had experienced an engine flame-out while over Lake ErieLake ErieLake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and was attempting an unpowered landing when it crashed short of the runway, killing the pilot.
Major 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 ....
(since 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...
/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...
(???-1992)
Previous designations
- 127th Wing (since 1996)
- 127th Fighter Wing (1995–1996)
- 127th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
- 127th Tactical Fighter Group (1962–1992)
Squadrons assigned
- 107th Fighter Squadron107th Fighter SquadronThe 107th Fighter Squadron is a Michigan National Guard Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It is a part of the 127th Wing. Organized in 1925 as the Michigan National Guard's first flying unit, the squadron consisted of 20 officers and 90 enlisted men meeting weekly in a Detroit...
(since 1946) - 171st Air Refueling Squadron171st Air Refueling SquadronThe 171st Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard, flying the KC-135T Stratotanker. Its parent unit is the 127th Wing.-World War II:...
(???-Present)
Bases stationed
- Selfridge ANGB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(since 1971) - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County AirportDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County AirportDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
(1946–1971)
Aircraft Operated
- KC-135T Stratotanker (since 2008) (2005 BRAC)
- 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,...
(since 2007) (2005 BRAC) - F-16A/BF-16 Fighting FalconThe General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
(1990 – December 17, 2008) - C-130BC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
(1994–2007) - A-7D/KA-7 Corsair IIThe 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...
(1978–1990) - F-100DF-100 Super SabreThe 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...
(1972–1978) - RF-101A/CF-101 VoodooThe McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
(1971–1972) - RF-84F (1958–1971)
- F-89CF-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) - F-86EF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
(???) - F-51H (1948–1950)
- P-51D Mustang (1948–1950)
- F-84B (1950–1952)
- AT-11 Kansan (1946–1950)
- B-26A-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
(1946–1950) - C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
(1946–1950) - T-6 TexanT-6 TexanThe North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
(1946–1950) - L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1946–1950)