131st Bomb Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 131st Bomb Wing is a B-2 unit of the Missouri Air National Guard
. It is located at Whiteman AFB, in association with the 509th Bomb Wing
of the active duty United States Air Force
, and a small Guard base located at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
. With its roots going back to the early 1920s, it has become one of the most historical and important wings in the United States Air Force. The F-15C Eagles formally operated by the wing were distributed to the 120th Fighter Wing
and Hickam AFB In Hawaii.
Major Bill Robertson was the first commanding officer.
During the next few years, the JN- 4's were replaced by the PT-1, TW-3, O-11, and O-2H aircraft and the unit assumed a mission of observation and reconnaissance. The Douglas O-38 aircraft was received in 1933, and was replaced in 1938 by the North American O-47 A, an all-metal mid-wing observation aircraft. The unit's first summer encampments were held in 1924 and 1925 at Camp Clark Nevada, Missouri. Subsequent encampments were at Fort Riley, Kansas; Lambert Field, St Louis; Eglin Field, Florida; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The unit entered into active service at the very start of World War II. In the early stages of the war, the unit was equipped with P-39 and P-40 fighter aircraft. The unit distinguished itself in sinking an enormous amount of Japanese shipping tonnage and received the Presidential Unit Citation. Later in the war, the 110th converted to P-51 " Mustangs". In the early summer of 1946, plans were formulated to organize the Air National Guard. Federal recognition was granted to the 57th Fighter Wing on 3 July 1946, to the 131st Fighter Group on 15 July 1946, and to the 110th Fighter Squadron on 23 September 1946.
The allotment of the 57th Fighter Wing to the National Guard was retroactively revoked and replaced by the 71st Fighter Wing in 1947. On 1 November 1950, the 71st Fighter Wing was inactivated and replaced by the 131st Composite Wing. In February 1951, the wing was redesignated the 131st Fighter Wing. On 1 March 1951, as a result of the Korean Emergency, the Wing was recalled to active federal service for a period of twenty-one months. It moved to Bergstrom AFB, TX, where it became the 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 9 April 1951. In August 1951 it moved to George AFB, CA, where it remained until 1 December, 1952, when it was replaced by the 479th Fighter-Bomber Wing and returned to the Air National Guard. Upon the unit's return, it was redesignated the 131st Bombardment Wing, Light and re-equipped with the B-26 Light Bomber. In 1955, it became the 131st Bombardment Wing, Tactical. The 110th received its first jet aircraft in the spring of 1957 and on 1 July 1957 was redesignated the 131st Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The unit flew F-80 and T-33 aircraft until June 1957, then transitioned to the F-84F as the 131st Tactical Fighter Wing. A high degree of operational readiness was maintained with annual summer encampments at Volk Field, Wisconsin.
C "Super Sabers" in late 1962. Its standard of excellence and operational readiness was maintained for the next sixteen years with the F-100. In the autumn of 1978, the 110th received the McDonnell Douglas
F-4C Phantom II
, then in 1985 the 110th converted to the F-4E, until September 1991, when it converted to the F-15 A/B Eagle. Note: the last F-4 Phantom II
aircraft flown by the Missouri Air National Guard was the same fighter that shot down two MiG-21 aircraft over North Vietnam, and the same aircraft that flew the Phantom line's 10-millionth hour in January 1990. Today, it is gutted and mounted on a pedestal as a permanent exhibit behind the headquarters building at Missouri Air National Guard Base at Lambert International Airport in Saint Louis.
to the more up-to-date F-15C. In late 2005, BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) put the 131st Fighter Wing on the list of closings. Despite heavy arguments from Missouri Law Makers, the decision was not overruled. In June 2009, the 131st Fighter Wing shut down operations at Lambert due to BRAC, and most of the wing was transferred to Whiteman Air Force Base
, to be the first-ever wing associated with the B-2 Spirit
. The 20 F-15C aircraft presently assigned to the unit were relocated to the 120th Fighter Wing
in Montana and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.
An F-15A from the 131st currently sits at the entrance of the Missouri Air National Guard.
On 2 November 2007 another F-15C from the 131st crashed in Mark Twain National Forest
, in Missouri. No property was damaged and no people on the ground were hurt, however the pilot broke an arm and a shoulder, despite ejecting from the plane. The pilot also was said to be in "shock" when landowners found him. The crash was due to a flaw in a part of the planes fuselage this led to all F-15 aircraft being grounded at one point between Nov. and Jan. Since after the accidents the 131st's flights have been reduced, also due to the wing slowly moving to flying B-2s. However the 131st and the F-15's are still on active duty.
, and a total of 25 pilots will be chosen from the 131st to fly the aircraft. All other guard crewmembers will transfer to Whiteman Air Force Base
to work on the B-2 aircraft. The new unit will be called the 131st Bomb Wing. Both the B-2 and the F-15 were operated for a time by the unit at separate bases. (F-15's at Lambert and B-2's at Whiteman AFB).
Tenant Units - St. Louis
239th Combat Communications Squadron
231st Civil Engineer Flight
571st Air Force Band, Band of the Central States
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 131st Bomb Wing is a B-2 unit of the Missouri Air National Guard
Missouri Air National Guard
The Missouri Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Missouri. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard...
. It is located at Whiteman AFB, in association with the 509th Bomb Wing
509th Bomb Wing
The 509th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri....
of the active duty 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...
, and a small Guard base located at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily...
. With its roots going back to the early 1920s, it has become one of the most historical and important wings in the United States Air Force. The F-15C Eagles formally operated by the wing were distributed to the 120th Fighter Wing
120th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 120th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana.-Mission:The 120th Fighter Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard,serves a dual mission:...
and Hickam AFB In Hawaii.
History
The 35th Division Aviation section of the Missouri National Guard was formally organized on 23 June 1923. Its headquarters were located in a filling station on Manchester Avenue. From there, they were moved to a small room over a grocery store on Olive Street Road In Saint Louis County. Meetings were held at the airport, then little more than a pasture, and there were no airplanes and no uniforms for the enlisted men. The first flying equipment was a Curtiss OX JN-4 "Jenny," which was purchased by the officers of the squadron and used for flight training until early 1924 when three wartime JN-4's were received. The planes were housed in a corrugated sheet metal hangar erected on the field during the National Air Races in 1923, and were later turned over to the squadron. Additional aircraft and equipment were received throughout 1924, and by year's end, a well-received training program was in effect. Only eighteen months had elapsed since the unit was formally organized.Major Bill Robertson was the first commanding officer.
During the next few years, the JN- 4's were replaced by the PT-1, TW-3, O-11, and O-2H aircraft and the unit assumed a mission of observation and reconnaissance. The Douglas O-38 aircraft was received in 1933, and was replaced in 1938 by the North American O-47 A, an all-metal mid-wing observation aircraft. The unit's first summer encampments were held in 1924 and 1925 at Camp Clark Nevada, Missouri. Subsequent encampments were at Fort Riley, Kansas; Lambert Field, St Louis; Eglin Field, Florida; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The unit entered into active service at the very start of World War II. In the early stages of the war, the unit was equipped with P-39 and P-40 fighter aircraft. The unit distinguished itself in sinking an enormous amount of Japanese shipping tonnage and received the Presidential Unit Citation. Later in the war, the 110th converted to P-51 " Mustangs". In the early summer of 1946, plans were formulated to organize the Air National Guard. Federal recognition was granted to the 57th Fighter Wing on 3 July 1946, to the 131st Fighter Group on 15 July 1946, and to the 110th Fighter Squadron on 23 September 1946.
The allotment of the 57th Fighter Wing to the National Guard was retroactively revoked and replaced by the 71st Fighter Wing in 1947. On 1 November 1950, the 71st Fighter Wing was inactivated and replaced by the 131st Composite Wing. In February 1951, the wing was redesignated the 131st Fighter Wing. On 1 March 1951, as a result of the Korean Emergency, the Wing was recalled to active federal service for a period of twenty-one months. It moved to Bergstrom AFB, TX, where it became the 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 9 April 1951. In August 1951 it moved to George AFB, CA, where it remained until 1 December, 1952, when it was replaced by the 479th Fighter-Bomber Wing and returned to the Air National Guard. Upon the unit's return, it was redesignated the 131st Bombardment Wing, Light and re-equipped with the B-26 Light Bomber. In 1955, it became the 131st Bombardment Wing, Tactical. The 110th received its first jet aircraft in the spring of 1957 and on 1 July 1957 was redesignated the 131st Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The unit flew F-80 and T-33 aircraft until June 1957, then transitioned to the F-84F as the 131st Tactical Fighter Wing. A high degree of operational readiness was maintained with annual summer encampments at Volk Field, Wisconsin.
Cold War
With the Berlin Crisis, the 110th Tactical fighter Squadron was recalled to active service at Toul-Rosleres Airbase in France from October 1961 to August 1962. After returning to Saint Louis, the unit received F-100F-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...
C "Super Sabers" in late 1962. Its standard of excellence and operational readiness was maintained for the next sixteen years with the F-100. In the autumn of 1978, the 110th received the McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
F-4C Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, then in 1985 the 110th converted to the F-4E, until September 1991, when it converted to the F-15 A/B Eagle. Note: the last F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
aircraft flown by the Missouri Air National Guard was the same fighter that shot down two MiG-21 aircraft over North Vietnam, and the same aircraft that flew the Phantom line's 10-millionth hour in January 1990. Today, it is gutted and mounted on a pedestal as a permanent exhibit behind the headquarters building at Missouri Air National Guard Base at Lambert International Airport in Saint Louis.
Modern day
In early 2004, the unit transferred from the outdated F-15AF-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
to the more up-to-date F-15C. In late 2005, BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) put the 131st Fighter Wing on the list of closings. Despite heavy arguments from Missouri Law Makers, the decision was not overruled. In June 2009, the 131st Fighter Wing shut down operations at Lambert due to BRAC, and most of the wing was transferred to Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
, to be the first-ever wing associated with the B-2 Spirit
B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
. The 20 F-15C aircraft presently assigned to the unit were relocated to the 120th Fighter Wing
120th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 120th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana.-Mission:The 120th Fighter Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard,serves a dual mission:...
in Montana and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.
An F-15A from the 131st currently sits at the entrance of the Missouri Air National Guard.
F-15 Crashes
On Wednesday morning, 30 May 2007, A Missouri National Guard F-15 pilot ejected safely from his aircraft just before it crashed during a training mission in rural Knox county, Indiana. The plane went down just before 11 am EDT south of Vincennes, near the Illinois border, as it conducted standard training maneuvers, according to a release from the National Guard. Investigators said the plane was flying at about 20,000 feet prior to the crash. The pilot had been with the 131st Fighter Wing for 12 years and was highly experienced, officials said. The unit had most recently enforced no-fly zones in Iraq. This crash decreased the 131st's aircraft count from 20 to 19.On 2 November 2007 another F-15C from the 131st crashed in Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest
Mark Twain National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers approximately 1.5 million acres , 78,000 acres of which are Wilderness, and National...
, in Missouri. No property was damaged and no people on the ground were hurt, however the pilot broke an arm and a shoulder, despite ejecting from the plane. The pilot also was said to be in "shock" when landowners found him. The crash was due to a flaw in a part of the planes fuselage this led to all F-15 aircraft being grounded at one point between Nov. and Jan. Since after the accidents the 131st's flights have been reduced, also due to the wing slowly moving to flying B-2s. However the 131st and the F-15's are still on active duty.
End of an era
The F-15's began to leave Lambert on 15 August 2008 and by January 2009, most of the 13 remaining aircraft were in the main hangar being stripped of markings or already had their markings removed. The final two F-15C's departed on 13 June 2009 after a closing ceremony titled "The End Of An Era", that was attended by over 2,000 people. Some pilots are taking B-2 Training courses while others are changing units, or decided to retire early. The 131st Fighter Wing was the most experienced F-15 Fighter Wing in the United States; out of the four pilots that flew over 4,000 F-15 flight hours, three of them were from the unit.131st Bomb Wing
In 2005, BRAC voted to take away the F-15C Eagle. In July 2009 the 131st will be the first-ever Air National Guard wing to employ the B-2 SpiritB-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
, and a total of 25 pilots will be chosen from the 131st to fly the aircraft. All other guard crewmembers will transfer to Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
to work on the B-2 aircraft. The new unit will be called the 131st Bomb Wing. Both the B-2 and the F-15 were operated for a time by the unit at separate bases. (F-15's at Lambert and B-2's at Whiteman AFB).
Public Appearances
The Wing appeared in numerous air shows throughout Missouri, most notably, the St. Louis County Fair and Air show, where F-4's and eventually F-15's were used to open the show, although as years went by it was moved as an "after event". The last airshow the wing participated in was the 2008 Columbia, Missouri airshow.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...
/Global Strike CommandGlobal Strike CommandAir Force Global Strike Command is a major command of the United States Air Force outlined in a recent roadmap for the improvement of the United States' nuclear arsenal. It assumed responsibility for the nuclear-capable assets of Air Force Space Command on 1 December 2009 and the nuclear-capable...
(2010–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...
/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 ....
(1992–2010) - 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
- 131st Fighter Wing (1992–2009)
- 131st Tactical Fighter Wing (1958–1992)
- 131st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (1957-1958)
- 131st Bombardment Wing, Tactical (1955-1957)
- 131st Bombardment Wing, Light (1952–1955)
- 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing (1951-1952)
- 131st Fighter Wing (1951-1951)
- 131st Composite Wing (1950–1951)
Tenant Units - St. Louis
239th Combat Communications Squadron
231st Civil Engineer Flight
571st Air Force Band, Band of the Central States
Squadrons assigned
- 110th Bomb Squadron (2008–present)
- 110th Fighter Squadron110th Fighter SquadronThe 110th Bomb Squadron flies the B-2 Spirit. It is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard. Its parent organization is the 131st Bomb Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Force Global Strike Command...
(1992–2009) - 110th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958–1992)
- 110th Fighter Day Squadron (1958-1958)
- 110th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1957-1958)
- 110th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical (1955-1957)
- 110th Bombardment Squadron, Light (1952–1955)
- 110th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1951–1952)
- 110th Fighter Squadron (1946–1951)
Bases stationed
- Whiteman Air Force BaseWhiteman Air Force BaseWhiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
(2008–present) - Lambert Field, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(1923 – July 2009)
Aircraft Operated
- B-2 SpiritB-2 SpiritThe Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
(2009–present) - F-15C Eagle(2004–2009)
- F-15A Eagle(1991–2004)
- F-4E Phantom II (1985–1991)
- F-4C Phantom II (1978–1985)
- F-100 Super SabreF-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...
(1962–1978) - F-80 Shooting Star (1957–1962)
- F-84 ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe 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...
(1957–1962) - T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
(1957–1962) - B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
(1952–1957) - North American P-51 (1945–1952)
- P-40 (1940–1945)
- North American O-47North American O-47|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946....
(1938–1945) - Douglas O-38Douglas O-38-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
(1933–1938) - Consolidated O-17 (1930–1933)
- Douglas O-2H (1929)
- Douglas O-2C (1926–1929)
- Consolidated PT-1Consolidated PT-1The Consolidated PT-1 Trusty was a biplane primary trainer used by the United States Army Air Service.-Design and development:...
(1925) - JN-4 (1923–1925)
Decorations
-
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1994–1996
External links
- http://www.131fw.ang.af.mil/ (Official Website)
- http://www.131stfighterwing.webs.com (A Website devoted to 131st Media) The unofficial Myspace page of the wing
- http://www.youtube.com/131stfwfan (The 131st Fighter Wing youtube page)
- http://www.131stfwfan.blogspot.com (A Blog about the news of the 131st Fighter Wing)
- http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/aviation/131st.htm
- http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/tack/
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/131fw.htm
- http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov02/0,4670,GuardJetCrash,00.html
- http://www.mostlo.ang.af.mil/131st_bomb_wing_whitemanpilotselection1.htm