138th Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 138th Fighter Wing (138 FW) is a fighter unit located at Tulsa International Airport
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. An Air National Guard
(ANG) unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
(ACC), the wing flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon
multirole fighter.
, the wing's state mission is to support the governor of the state of Oklahoma with units organized, equipped and trained in the protection of life and property, and preservation of peace, order and public safety under competent orders of authority.
until V-E Day, participating in the campaigns of northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and central Europe, and was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge
in July 1945. Over the course of those five years, the 125th flew the 0-38E, 0-52 and L-5.
Back home in Tulsa in November 1945 as the 125th Fighter Squadron, the Unit flew the F-51 Mustang until February 1947 when it was designated the 125th Fighter Bomber Squadron (Jet) and equipped with the F-84 Thunderstreak. After receiving the Spaatz Trophy Award in 1950, the 125th was again ordered to active duty under the Ninth Air Force
and sent to England AFB in Alexandria, Louisiana until July 1952. After returning to Tulsa under state control the squadron flew the F-51 Mustang and F-80 Shooting Star until becoming part of the 138th Fighter Group (AD) for duty with the Air Defense Command flying the F-86D Sabrejet in August 1957.
January 1960 brought significant change to the 125th as the unit was designated the 125th Air Transport Squadron and assigned to the 137th Air Transport Wing in Oklahoma City. For the next eight years the unit flew the C-97, transporting cargo to Vietnam and throughout the world before converting to the C-124 Globemaster II
in 1968.
In October 1972, the 125th Tactical Fighter Wing resumed its rich heritage of tactical fighter operations by converting to the T-33 Shooting Star
in preparation for activation in the F-100D Super Sabre in March 1973, and once again became part of the 138th Tactical Fighter Group in January 1973. The 125th converted to the A-7D Corsair II in July 1978 and amassed 15 years of outstanding combat readiness in the venerable SLUF.
After conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the 138th Fighter Wing has participated in Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit's deployment to Iraq in 2008 marked their 10th deployment to the Middle East. Additionally, the laser targeting pod system for precision guided munitions employment has been incorporated into the unit mission.
Since June 1993, the men and women of the 125th Fighter Squadron and the 138th Fighter Wing have flown the Lockheed F-16C and F-16D Fighting Falcon multirole fighter aircraft.
On 14 March 2008 a 138th Fighter Wing-assigned fighter aircraft en route to the Smokey Hill Gunnery Range in Salina, Kansas accidentally dropped a 22-pound, non-explosive practice bomb on an apartment complex in Tulsa, damaging a building foundation and knocking out the power to the building. No one was injured and the 138th Fighter Wing announced that they were investigating the incident themselves.
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 138th Fighter Wing (138 FW) is a fighter unit located at Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. 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...
(ANG) unit operationally-gained by the 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), the wing flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The 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...
multirole fighter.
Mission
The federal mission of the 138th Fighter Wing is to maintain combat forces ready for mobilization, deployment and employment as needed to support national security objectives. As a unit of the Oklahoma Air National GuardOklahoma Air National Guard
The Oklahoma Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is, along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, an element of the Oklahoma National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state...
, the wing's state mission is to support the governor of the state of Oklahoma with units organized, equipped and trained in the protection of life and property, and preservation of peace, order and public safety under competent orders of authority.
History
Organized in December 1940 as Oklahoma National Guard's first flying unit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the 125th Observation Squadron was federally recognized in January 1941. For the next three and a half years the squadron was attached to the 77th Observation Group and the 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at various locales in the United States before arriving at Liverpool, England on D-Day in 1944. After moving across the English Channel to France in August 1944, the 125th Liaison Squadron was attached to the U.S. Ninth ArmyU.S. Ninth Army
The Ninth United States Army was one of the main U.S. Army combat commands used during the campaign in Northwest Europe in 1944 and 1945. It was commanded from its inception by Lieutenant General William Simpson...
until V-E Day, participating in the campaigns of northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and central Europe, and was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in July 1945. Over the course of those five years, the 125th flew the 0-38E, 0-52 and L-5.
Back home in Tulsa in November 1945 as the 125th Fighter Squadron, the Unit flew the F-51 Mustang until February 1947 when it was designated the 125th Fighter Bomber Squadron (Jet) and equipped with the F-84 Thunderstreak. After receiving the Spaatz Trophy Award in 1950, the 125th was again ordered to active duty under the Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The 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....
and sent to England AFB in Alexandria, Louisiana until July 1952. After returning to Tulsa under state control the squadron flew the F-51 Mustang and F-80 Shooting Star until becoming part of the 138th Fighter Group (AD) for duty with the Air Defense Command flying the F-86D Sabrejet in August 1957.
January 1960 brought significant change to the 125th as the unit was designated the 125th Air Transport Squadron and assigned to the 137th Air Transport Wing in Oklahoma City. For the next eight years the unit flew the C-97, transporting cargo to Vietnam and throughout the world before converting to the C-124 Globemaster II
C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
in 1968.
In October 1972, the 125th Tactical Fighter Wing resumed its rich heritage of tactical fighter operations by converting to the T-33 Shooting Star
T-33 Shooting Star
The 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...
in preparation for activation in the F-100D Super Sabre in March 1973, and once again became part of the 138th Tactical Fighter Group in January 1973. The 125th converted to the A-7D Corsair II in July 1978 and amassed 15 years of outstanding combat readiness in the venerable SLUF.
After conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the 138th Fighter Wing has participated in Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit's deployment to Iraq in 2008 marked their 10th deployment to the Middle East. Additionally, the laser targeting pod system for precision guided munitions employment has been incorporated into the unit mission.
Since June 1993, the men and women of the 125th Fighter Squadron and the 138th Fighter Wing have flown the Lockheed F-16C and F-16D Fighting Falcon multirole fighter aircraft.
On 14 March 2008 a 138th Fighter Wing-assigned fighter aircraft en route to the Smokey Hill Gunnery Range in Salina, Kansas accidentally dropped a 22-pound, non-explosive practice bomb on an apartment complex in Tulsa, damaging a building foundation and knocking out the power to the building. No one was injured and the 138th Fighter Wing announced that they were investigating the incident themselves.
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...
(1972–1992) - 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...
/Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(1965–1972) - 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...
/Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(1960–1965) - 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 (1947–1960)
Previous designations
- 138th Fighter Wing (since 1995)
- 138th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
- 138th Tactical Fighter Group (1972–1992)
- 138th Air Transport Group (Under the 137th Air Transport Wing) (1960–1972)
- 138th Fighter Group (1957–1960)
Squadrons assigned
- 125th Fighter Squadron125th Fighter SquadronThe 125th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 138th Fighter Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command...
(since 1992) - 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1972–1992)
- 125th Air Transport Squadron (1960–1972)
- 125th Fighter Squadron (1957–1960)
- 125th Weather Flight125th Weather FlightThe United States Air Force's 125th Weather Flight is a combat weather team located at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma.-Mission:...
(since 1957) - 219th Electronics Engineering and Radar Installation Squadron219th Electronics Engineering and Radar Installation SquadronThe United States Air Force's 219th Engineering Installation Squadron is a communications infrastructure engineering Air National Guard squadron located at Tulsa International Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The mission of the 219th EIS is to support the warfighter by engineering, installing and...
(219th EIS) (since 1960) - 124th Space Superiority Squadron (since 2002)
- 125th Mobile Oppression Squadron (since 2002)
Bases stationed
- Will Rogers World AirportWill Rogers World AirportWill Rogers World Airport , also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is located in southwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 6 miles from downtown and is the principal commercial airport of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area...
, Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(???-Present) - Tulsa International AirportTulsa International AirportTulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
, Tulsa, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(since 1940)
Aircraft Operated
- F-16C Fighting Falcon (since 1993)
- A-7D Corsair (1978–1993)
- F-100D Super Sabre (1973–1978)
- 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...
(1972–1973) - C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
(1968–1972) - C-97 StratofreighterC-97 StratofreighterThe Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
(1960–1968) - F-86D Sabre (1957–1960)
- F-80 Shooting Star (1953–1957)
- F-51 Mustang (1951–1953)
- F-84 Thunderstreak (1947–1950)
- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe 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...
(1945–1947)