176th Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 176th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard
. Its parent unit is the 115th Fighter Wing
.
The origins of the 176th Fighter Squadron begin on 16 July 1942 with the establishment of the United States Army Air Forces
Third Air Force
306th Fighter Squadron at Dale Mabry Field
, Florida. Assigned to the 338th Fighter Group, the 306th was a Replacement Training Squadron (RTU) for recently graduated pilots from advanced pilot training. It trained pilots to fly P-39 Aircobras, P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolt
s, and P-51 Mustang
s. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944 due to a draw down for new pilots late in World War II. The squadron was reconstituted and re-designated as the 176th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to the Wisconsin Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.
in 1948. The P-51 Mustang
was the aircraft assigned to the unit. In 1950, 10 of the unit's 25 Mustangs were shipped to Korea
in support of the Korean War
effort. In February 1951, the 176 Fighter Squadron was called to active duty but remained at Truax Field.
During the active duty tour, the 176 Fighter Squadron converted its aircraft to the F-89 Scorpion
. They became the first Air National Guard
unit to fly the modern jet fighter. In October 1952, the 176th returned to reserve status and state control, and converted back to the F-51 Mustang.
aces in Korea were F-86 pilots.
The 176 Fighter Squadrons only summer training with the F-86 was at the Alpena Training Center in Alpena, Michigan in 1954. In October 1954 the F-86's were replaced with the F-89 Scorpion.
Summer training in 1955 was at home station. From 1956 to 1962 summer training moved to Volk Field. And from 1963 on, training moved to "year around" training. In January 1960 F-89 crews were put on active duty status and the unit was assigned an around-the-clock runway alert commitment of two armed aircraft. Along with this commitment came the F-89J with an armament platform that included the AIR-2 Genie
. The AIR-2A was the first US air to air rocket with a nuclear warhead.
In early 1966 the squadron turned in their F-89's for the F-102 Delta Dagger
.
for summer training, ending six years of "year around" training at home base.
In September 1972, the 176th won the prestigious "William Tell Competition
" in the F-102 category. The event, held at Tyndall Air Force Base
, included top Air National Guard, Canadian Air Force and active US Air Force units worldwide. The competition included 12 teams of 48 aircraft, each team scored on aerial marksmanship, weapons control, weapons loading and maintenance.
In December 1974 the unit's F-102's were replaced by the Cessna O2-A.
On 13 November 1979, now replaced by the OA-37 Dragonfly, the last O-2A left Truax for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
"bone yard".
With most of the pilots and maintenance crews having prior jet aircraft experience with the 102's, the unit was able to transition the OA-37 to C-1 status, (full combat ready), in less than six months.
The OA-37 had a top speed of 507 mph. Armament included one nose mounted 7.62mm mini-gun, and eight under wing hardpoints capable of carrying up to 4,800 pounds of ordinance.
Awards during the OA-37 era included an overall rating of "Excellent" in the unit's Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI), the Distinguished Flying Award and their first Force Outstanding Unit Award.
By late 1981, A-10 Thunderbolts were replacing the OA-37s at Truax Field.
During the A-10 era the unit received two "Outstanding Unit" Awards, three Air Force Flight Safety Awards, and in 1991 an "Outstanding" in its Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI).
Deployments included: Operation Coronet Cove to Panama, and "Checkered Flag" missions to bases in Germany and England.
In 1992 the unit began its conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon
.
, (now Lockheed Martin) "Block 30" F-16C Fighting Falcon. Also occurring at this time was a command change from the Air Force's Tactical Air Command
(TAC) to the newly created Air Combat Command
(ACC).
F-16C Armament includes one M-61A1 Vulcan
20mm cannon and nine external stations for munitions and electronic countermeasure pods.
Operations participated in during this era include: Operation Coronet Chariot, Karup AS
, Denmark
1994, Operation Northern Watch
, Incirlik AB, Turkey
1997, Operation Southern Watch
, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait
1997-98, Operation Southern Watch, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia
1999, Operation Coronet Nighthawk
, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
2001, Operation Enduring Freedom, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
2004-05, and Operation Noble Eagle
, Sept. 11, 2001 to present.
Wisconsin Air National Guard
The Wisconsin Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard...
. Its parent unit is the 115th Fighter Wing
115th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 115th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Truax Field, Wisconsin.-Mission:The 115th Fighter Wing provides multi-role fighter support including air-to-air, close air support and precision guided bombing...
.
History
- Not to be confused with the United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe 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...
306th Tactical Fighter Squadron306th Tactical Fighter SquadronThe 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing. stationed at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida...
The origins of the 176th Fighter Squadron begin on 16 July 1942 with the establishment of the United States Army Air Forces
United 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....
Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
306th Fighter Squadron at Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field was an early airfield located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States established in 1928 and replaced by Tallahassee Regional Airport. It was located at what is now Appleyard Drive and W...
, Florida. Assigned to the 338th Fighter Group, the 306th was a Replacement Training Squadron (RTU) for recently graduated pilots from advanced pilot training. It trained pilots to fly P-39 Aircobras, P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
s, and 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...
s. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944 due to a draw down for new pilots late in World War II. The squadron was reconstituted and re-designated as the 176th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to the Wisconsin Air National Guard on 24 May 1946.
1948-1952
The 176 Fighter Squadron was organized at Truax FieldNaval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , also known as Truax Field, is a naval base located six miles southeast of the central business district of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas, USA.-History:...
in 1948. 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...
was the aircraft assigned to the unit. In 1950, 10 of the unit's 25 Mustangs were shipped to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in support of 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...
effort. In February 1951, the 176 Fighter Squadron was called to active duty but remained at Truax Field.
During the active duty tour, the 176 Fighter Squadron converted its aircraft to the F-89 Scorpion
F-89 Scorpion
The 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...
. They became the first 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...
unit to fly the modern jet fighter. In October 1952, the 176th returned to reserve status and state control, and converted back to the F-51 Mustang.
1953-1954
In October 1953, The 176 Fighter Squadron converted from F-51's to the F-86 Sabrejet. The F-86 was the first US jet aircraft to successfully use swept back wing geometry. The combination of swept wing and automatic extending leading edge slats provided for both stability at low speeds and low drag at high speeds. The top speed For the F-86A variant was 685 MPH. The F-86 was used extensively in the Korean War, and F86 pilots held a 10-1 kill ratio over Russian MIG aircraft in that era. 39 of the 40 United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
aces in Korea were F-86 pilots.
The 176 Fighter Squadrons only summer training with the F-86 was at the Alpena Training Center in Alpena, Michigan in 1954. In October 1954 the F-86's were replaced with the F-89 Scorpion.
1955-1968
In October 1954 The 176 Fighter Squadron (FS) was re-assigned the F-89 Scorpion, which they had flown briefly in 1952 during the unit's Korean War activation. The aircraft, designed as an "All Weather" fighter interceptor, carried a pilot and radar operator.Summer training in 1955 was at home station. From 1956 to 1962 summer training moved to Volk Field. And from 1963 on, training moved to "year around" training. In January 1960 F-89 crews were put on active duty status and the unit was assigned an around-the-clock runway alert commitment of two armed aircraft. Along with this commitment came the F-89J with an armament platform that included the AIR-2 Genie
AIR-2 Genie
The Douglas AIR-2 Genie was an unguided air-to-air rocket with a 1.5kt W25 nuclear warhead. It was deployed by the United States Air Force and Canada during the Cold War...
. The AIR-2A was the first US air to air rocket with a nuclear warhead.
In early 1966 the squadron turned in their F-89's for the F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The 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...
.
1968-1974
In May 1966 the 176 Fighter Squadron (FS) replaced their F-89's with the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger. In the spring of 1967 after a period of re-training in the new supersonic interceptors, the 176th resumed its air defense "runway alert" mission. One year later in June 1969, the unit airlifted to Gulfport, MississippiGulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
for summer training, ending six years of "year around" training at home base.
In September 1972, the 176th won the prestigious "William Tell Competition
William Tell (USAF)
William Tell is a biennial aerial gunnery competition with fighter aircraft held by the United States Air Force in every even-numbered year. In the competition, teams representing the various major commands of the USAF compete in live-fire exercises, using towed banner targets for gun engagements,...
" in the F-102 category. The event, held 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...
, included top Air National Guard, Canadian Air Force and active US Air Force units worldwide. The competition included 12 teams of 48 aircraft, each team scored on aerial marksmanship, weapons control, weapons loading and maintenance.
In December 1974 the unit's F-102's were replaced by the Cessna O2-A.
1974-1979
In November 1979 the 176 Fighter Squadron (FS) changed its mission from Air Defense, to Tactical Air Support. Along with the mission change came a new unit designation, the 176 Tactical Air Support Squadron, (TASS), and new aircraft, the Cessna O-2A. The O-2 was the military version of the Cessna 337 Skymaster, a high wing, twin boom aircraft with a unique centerline pusher/tractor twin engine configuration. The O-2A version, used by the 176 TASS, was used in forward air control, (FAC), missions, often in conjunction with a ground FAC & ROMAD, (radio operator, maintenance, and driver), team. Operating speed was 80-200 MPH. Aircraft ordinance, on 4 pylons, included rockets, flares, and other light armament including 7.62mm mini guns.On 13 November 1979, now replaced by the OA-37 Dragonfly, the last O-2A left Truax for the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located within the city limits, and approximately south-southeast of downtown, Tucson, Arizona....
"bone yard".
1979-1981
In 1979 the 176 Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) converted to the OA-37, and at that time became the first unit in the Air Force to convert to a jet aircraft, forward air control mission.With most of the pilots and maintenance crews having prior jet aircraft experience with the 102's, the unit was able to transition the OA-37 to C-1 status, (full combat ready), in less than six months.
The OA-37 had a top speed of 507 mph. Armament included one nose mounted 7.62mm mini-gun, and eight under wing hardpoints capable of carrying up to 4,800 pounds of ordinance.
Awards during the OA-37 era included an overall rating of "Excellent" in the unit's Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI), the Distinguished Flying Award and their first Force Outstanding Unit Award.
By late 1981, A-10 Thunderbolts were replacing the OA-37s at Truax Field.
1981-1992
On 1 October 1981, the 176 Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) was redesignated the 176 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS). Along with the mission change came a new aircraft, the A-10 Thunderbolt, nickname "Warthog". Designed specifically for close air support, its low speed maneuverability and design for survivability made the A-10 an excellent weapons delivery system for ground targets. The A-10's most dominant feature is its seven barrel GAU-8/A 30mm cannon, capable of firing at up to 70 "tank busting" rounds per second.During the A-10 era the unit received two "Outstanding Unit" Awards, three Air Force Flight Safety Awards, and in 1991 an "Outstanding" in its Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI).
Deployments included: Operation Coronet Cove to Panama, and "Checkered Flag" missions to bases in Germany and England.
In 1992 the unit began its conversion to 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...
.
1992-present
On 16 March 1992 the 176 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) was redesignated the 176 Fighter Squadron (FS). Soon after it began converting over to the General DynamicsGeneral Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, (now Lockheed Martin) "Block 30" F-16C Fighting Falcon. Also occurring at this time was a command change from the Air Force's 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) to the newly created 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).
F-16C Armament includes one M-61A1 Vulcan
M61 Vulcan
The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...
20mm cannon and nine external stations for munitions and electronic countermeasure pods.
Operations participated in during this era include: Operation Coronet Chariot, Karup AS
Karup Airport
Karup Airport is an airport in Denmark.At the request of some middle-and West Jutland politicians airport, it was opened on 1 November 1965 when the first direct connection between Karup and Copenhagen was opened....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
1994, Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch, the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a US European Command Combined Task Force charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq...
, Incirlik AB, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
1997, Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
1997-98, Operation Southern Watch, Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
1999, Operation Coronet Nighthawk
Operation Coronet Nighthawk
Operation Coronet Nighthawk was a U.S. anti-narcotic smuggling air patrol operation. Formerly carried out from Howard Air Force Base in Panama, the operation was moved to Hato, at Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles from April 1999...
, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
2001, Operation Enduring Freedom, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
2004-05, and Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
, Sept. 11, 2001 to present.
Lineage
- Constituted 306th Fighter Squadron on 16 Jul 1942
- Activated on 22 Jul 1942
- Disbanded on 1 May 1944
- Reconstituted, redesignated 176th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Wisconsin ANG, on 24 May 1946
- Received federal recognition and activated 1948
- Federalized and placed on active duty, 10 February 1951
- Designated as 176th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), 10 February 1951
- Released from active duty and returned to Wisconsin state control, 1 November 1952
- Re-designated: 176th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 1953
- Re-designated: 176th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 1974
- Re-designated: 176th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1981
- Re-designated: 176th Fighter Squadron, 1992-Present
Assignments
- 338th Fighter Group, 22 Jul 1942-1 May 1944
- Wisconsin Air National GuardWisconsin Air National GuardThe Wisconsin Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard...
, 24 May 1946
- 128th Fighter Group (ADC), 1948
- 128th Fighter Group (ConAC), 1 December 1948
- 128th Fighter Group (ADC), 1 January 1951
- Federalized and placed on active duty under Air Defense Command, 10 February 1951
- 128th Fighter Group, 10 February 1951
- 31st Air Division, 6 February 1952
- Released from active duty and returned to Wisconsin state control, 1 November 1952
- 128th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (ADC), 1 November 1952
- 128th Tactical Air Support Wing (TAC), 1974
- 128th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), 1981
- 128th Fighter Wing (ACC), 1981
- 115th Fighter Wing115th Fighter WingThe United States Air Force's 115th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard fighter unit located at Truax Field, Wisconsin.-Mission:The 115th Fighter Wing provides multi-role fighter support including air-to-air, close air support and precision guided bombing...
(ACC), 1995-Present
Stations
- Dale Mabry FieldDale Mabry FieldDale Mabry Field was an early airfield located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States established in 1928 and replaced by Tallahassee Regional Airport. It was located at what is now Appleyard Drive and W...
, Fla, 22 Jul 1942-1 May 1944 - Truax Field, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, 1948
- Designated: Truax Field Air National Guard Base, 1991-Present
Aircraft
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1992–Present)
- A-10A Thunderbolt II (1981–1992)
- OA-37A Dragonfly (1979–1981)
- O-2 SkymasterO-2 SkymasterThe O-2 Skymaster is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control aircraft...
(1974–1979) - F-102A Delta Dagger (1965–1974)
- F-89 ScorpionF-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...
(1955–1965) - F-86 SabreF-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...
(1953–1955) - F-51 Mustang (1952–1953)
- F-89 ScorpionF-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...
(1951–1952) - F-51 Mustang (1948–1951)