148th Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The 148th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Minnesota National Guard
based at Duluth International Airport
. It falls under 1st Air Force and Air Combat Command. The 179th Fighter Squadron
, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is the flying component of the 148 FW and is equipped with the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon.
The unit began as the 179th Fighter Squadron on September 17, 1948, under the command of the 133rd Fighter Wing. On July 1, 1960, the 148th Fighter Group was formed and the 179 FS began 24-hour alert status as a part of Air Defense Command.
In 1976 the unit became the 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, flying the RF-4C Phantom II
. The designation was changed again in 1983 when the unit became the 148th Fighter Interceptor Group. In 1990 the unit received the F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter. Another name change was instituted on March 17, 1992, and the unit was once again the 148th Fighter Group.
On October 11, 1995, the unit became the 148th Fighter Wing. Detachment 1 of the unit assumed alert status at Tyndall Air Force Base
in Florida. In 1999 the mission was changed from Air Superiority to General Purpose, and the unit began practicing delivery of air-to-ground weapons.
In 2003 the unit traded their F-16A Block 15 aircraft for newer, more capable, F-16C Block 25 models. In 2005 the Department of Defense recommended to the Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) retiring the F-16s of the 148 FW, because the older Block 25 is becoming harder and costlier to maintain. However, the BRAC eventually voted to let the unit keep their current aircraft.
Starting in April 2010 20 F-16CJ Block 50 aircraft were received from the 22d Fighter Squadron
, based at Spangdahlem Air Base
, Germany
.
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
based at Duluth International Airport
Duluth International Airport
Duluth International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Duluth, a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. It serves the Duluth-Superior area including Superior, Wisconsin...
. It falls under 1st Air Force and Air Combat Command. The 179th Fighter Squadron
179th Fighter Squadron
The 179th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 148th Fighter Wing.-Lineage:...
, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is the flying component of the 148 FW and is equipped with the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon.
Mission
"The Minnesota National Guard is under state jurisdiction and can be used by the governor to assist the state during disasters and other state emergencies. In times of war, Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen can be called into federal active service with the president of the United States as commander in chief."History
In 1976 the unit became the 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, flying the RF-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,...
. The designation was changed again in 1983 when the unit became the 148th Fighter Interceptor Group. In 1990 the unit received the F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter. Another name change was instituted on March 17, 1992, and the unit was once again the 148th Fighter Group.
On October 11, 1995, the unit became the 148th Fighter Wing. Detachment 1 of the unit assumed alert status at 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...
in Florida. In 1999 the mission was changed from Air Superiority to General Purpose, and the unit began practicing delivery of air-to-ground weapons.
In 2003 the unit traded their F-16A Block 15 aircraft for newer, more capable, F-16C Block 25 models. In 2005 the Department of Defense recommended to the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
(BRAC) retiring the F-16s of the 148 FW, because the older Block 25 is becoming harder and costlier to maintain. However, the BRAC eventually voted to let the unit keep their current aircraft.
Starting in April 2010 20 F-16CJ Block 50 aircraft were received from the 22d Fighter Squadron
22d Fighter Squadron
The 22d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52d Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 13 August 2010.-World War II:...
, based at Spangdahlem Air Base
Spangdahlem Air Base
Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, approximately 30 km NNE of the city of Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate.-Units:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
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 ....
(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...
(1976–1992) - 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 (1960–1976)
Previous designations
- 148th Fighter Wing (1995–Present)
- 148th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
- 148th Fighter Interceptor Group (1983–1992)
- 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1976–1983)
- 148th Fighter Group (1960–1976)
Bases stationed
- Duluth International AirportDuluth International AirportDuluth International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Duluth, a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. It serves the Duluth-Superior area including Superior, Wisconsin...
(1960–Present)- Tyndall Air Force BaseTyndall Air Force BaseTyndall 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...
(Detachment 1) (1995–Present)
- Tyndall Air Force Base
Aircraft operated
- F-16C Fighting Falcon (2003–Present)
- F-16A Fighting Falcon (1990–2003)
- F-4D Phantom II (1983–1990)
- RF-4C Phantom II (1976–1983)
- F-101 VoodooF-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...
(1971–1976) - 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...
(1967–1971) - F-89J Scorpion (1969–1971)
- F-94C Starfire (1957–1969)
- 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:...
(1954–1957) - 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...
(1948–1954)