183d Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
The 183d Fighter Wing is an Illinois Air National Guard
unit located at Capitol Airport
in Springfield, Illinois
. The history of this unit spans over 60 years and five aircraft. From the beginning, its members have made significant contributions to its response and leadership roles during state emergencies, and its active duty mission support of the United States Air Force
.
The unit began as the 170th Fighter Squadron in Florida
in 1948, but moved to Illinois
. Since Base Realignment and Closure
commission in 2005, the Wing has realized a two-fold mission.
From the P-51 Mustang
propeller aircraft to the F-16 Fighting Falcon
—from the original 60 men to the current level of more than 1,050 personnel—from the early group operations in a committee room at the State Armory and flight operations conducted from a T-hangar ready room with the aircraft parked on perforated steel planking to the present 183d Wing commanded base occupying almost 100 acre (0.404686 km²) at Capital Airport—the 183d Wing has a rich history and has come a long way during the past sixty years!
The P-51, which has been billed as the world's fastest propeller aircraft, was with the unit in May 1950 when they moved into a new hangar at Capital Airport, and was still with the unit in March 1951 when they were ordered to active duty for 21 months due to the Korean War
. Upon their return to state control in 1952, they were given P-51H Mustangs followed by three T-33 Shooting Star jet trainers.Ħ
The next aircraft was the F-86 Sabre
. The F-86 was assigned to the unit on 18 November 1953 and was their aircraft for about fifteen months.
On 2 February 1955, the first F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft arrived at Capitol Airport to be flown by the 170th. The F-84F had the longest stay with the unit. It was with the unit on 1 October 1961 when the 170th was called to active federal service due to the Communists' activities in West Berlin. The F-84F was the aircraft assigned when the 170th Fighter Squadron came under the command of the 183d Tactical Fighter Group in October 1962, and stayed with the unit through the first 9 years of existence for the 183d TFG. The 170th flew the F-84F for 17 years; longer than any other National Guard unit.
In October 1971 a 170th pilot was killed when his F-84F lost a wing during a training exercise at the Hardwood gunnery range in Findley, WI. All F-84F were immediately grounded and subsequently salvaged in Arizona. At the same time in 1971, the Air Force announced it was assigning some of its F-4 Phantom II
fleet to the Air National Guard, and the 170th TFS of the 183d was the first Guard unit to receive the F-4 thus earning the nickname, "First with the Phantom".
On 31 January 1972, the first F-4 Phantom II arrived at the base. In April of that year, four more Phantoms were flown here by the unit's own pilots. And in April 1979, after some seven years of F-4 experience, the 183d Tactical Fighter Group and all assigned units were named recipients of the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Conversion from the "C" model to the F-4D aircraft began on 1 January 1981. Some two years later, after smokeless version of the General Electric J-79 engine was developed by personnel of the 170th FS. The F-4Ds commenced a conversion program to the smokeless engine, thus eliminating the smoke trail, making it less visible and safer in combat situations, in addition to the environmental benefits. (In Viet Nam, Phantoms were known as the great smoking birds in the sky.) The Phantoms of the 183d were the first in the nation scheduled for the smokeless engine.
On 7 June 1989 the first two F-16s landed at Capital Airport and were received by the 183d. This was the beginning of the conversion from the F-4D to the F-16. 5 May 1990, marked the official acceptance of the F-16s by the 183d, therefore making the 183d a total F-16 fighting unit. The 183d Tactical Fighter group was placed under the command of the newly activated 183d Tactical Fighter Wing which was operationally gained by the 11 Air force Tactical Air Command (TAC). With the disestablishment of TAC in 1992, the 183d was redesignated as the 183d Fighter Wing and became operationally gained by the Air Combat Command
(ACC).
In October of 2008, the remainder of the 183d's F-16s departed Capital Airport and were reassigned to other units in accordance with the BRAC
commission of 2005, effectively deactivating the 170th Fighter Squadron in its maritime flight functions.
Illinois Air National Guard
The Illinois Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard...
unit located at Capitol Airport
Capitol Airport
Capitol Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Brookfield, a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It is privately owned by Wisconsin Aviation Investments LLC...
in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. The history of this unit spans over 60 years and five aircraft. From the beginning, its members have made significant contributions to its response and leadership roles during state emergencies, and its active duty mission support 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...
.
The unit began as the 170th Fighter Squadron in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1948, but moved to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Since 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...
commission in 2005, the Wing has realized a two-fold mission.
Today's Mission
Previous mission: To provide combat ready aircraft, pilots, and required support personnel capable of global deployment to perform tactical, general purpose warfare as directed by major command authority.History
After the end of World War 2 there was a great excess of unused fighter airplanes. The 170th roots began with the 305th Fighter squadron of the 338th Fighter group allocated to Air National Guard in May 1946 successively flying Bell P-39s, Republic P-47s, and Curtiss P-40s. On 30 September 1948 the unit was federally designated the 170th Fighter Squadron and transferred to the brand new Capitol Airport at Springfield, Illiniois, with P-51 D Mustangs as its first mission aircraft.From 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...
propeller aircraft 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...
—from the original 60 men to the current level of more than 1,050 personnel—from the early group operations in a committee room at the State Armory and flight operations conducted from a T-hangar ready room with the aircraft parked on perforated steel planking to the present 183d Wing commanded base occupying almost 100 acre (0.404686 km²) at Capital Airport—the 183d Wing has a rich history and has come a long way during the past sixty years!
The P-51, which has been billed as the world's fastest propeller aircraft, was with the unit in May 1950 when they moved into a new hangar at Capital Airport, and was still with the unit in March 1951 when they were ordered to active duty for 21 months due to 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...
. Upon their return to state control in 1952, they were given P-51H Mustangs followed by three T-33 Shooting Star jet trainers.Ħ
The next aircraft was the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The 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...
. The F-86 was assigned to the unit on 18 November 1953 and was their aircraft for about fifteen months.
On 2 February 1955, the first F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft arrived at Capitol Airport to be flown by the 170th. The F-84F had the longest stay with the unit. It was with the unit on 1 October 1961 when the 170th was called to active federal service due to the Communists' activities in West Berlin. The F-84F was the aircraft assigned when the 170th Fighter Squadron came under the command of the 183d Tactical Fighter Group in October 1962, and stayed with the unit through the first 9 years of existence for the 183d TFG. The 170th flew the F-84F for 17 years; longer than any other National Guard unit.
In October 1971 a 170th pilot was killed when his F-84F lost a wing during a training exercise at the Hardwood gunnery range in Findley, WI. All F-84F were immediately grounded and subsequently salvaged in Arizona. At the same time in 1971, the Air Force announced it was assigning some of its 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,...
fleet to the Air National Guard, and the 170th TFS of the 183d was the first Guard unit to receive the F-4 thus earning the nickname, "First with the Phantom".
On 31 January 1972, the first F-4 Phantom II arrived at the base. In April of that year, four more Phantoms were flown here by the unit's own pilots. And in April 1979, after some seven years of F-4 experience, the 183d Tactical Fighter Group and all assigned units were named recipients of the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Conversion from the "C" model to the F-4D aircraft began on 1 January 1981. Some two years later, after smokeless version of the General Electric J-79 engine was developed by personnel of the 170th FS. The F-4Ds commenced a conversion program to the smokeless engine, thus eliminating the smoke trail, making it less visible and safer in combat situations, in addition to the environmental benefits. (In Viet Nam, Phantoms were known as the great smoking birds in the sky.) The Phantoms of the 183d were the first in the nation scheduled for the smokeless engine.
On 7 June 1989 the first two F-16s landed at Capital Airport and were received by the 183d. This was the beginning of the conversion from the F-4D to the F-16. 5 May 1990, marked the official acceptance of the F-16s by the 183d, therefore making the 183d a total F-16 fighting unit. The 183d Tactical Fighter group was placed under the command of the newly activated 183d Tactical Fighter Wing which was operationally gained by the 11 Air force Tactical Air Command (TAC). With the disestablishment of TAC in 1992, the 183d was redesignated as the 183d Fighter Wing and became 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).
In October of 2008, the remainder of the 183d's F-16s departed Capital Airport and were reassigned to other units in accordance with the BRAC
BRAC
BRAC may stand for:* BRAC * Base Realignment and Closure for U.S. military bases**Base Realignment and Closure, 2005* Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks, a United States labor union now formally known as the Transportation Communications International Union* basic rest activity cycles of the...
commission of 2005, effectively deactivating the 170th Fighter Squadron in its maritime flight functions.
Major Command/Gaining 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...
(1990–1992)
Previous designations
- 183d Fighter Wing (1992–Present)
- 183d Tactical Fighter Wing (1990–1992) Newly activated with 183d TFG reporting
- 183d Tactical Fighter Group (1962–1992)
- 183d Fighter Group (1962) Federally recognized with 170th FS reporting
- 170th Tactical Fighter Squadron under State control
Bases stationed
- Capital AirportAbraham Lincoln Capital Airport-Airport services:The airport has a Subway, a gift shop and an automated teller machine. TV and a lounge are also provided at the airport.-External links:* , official site* , official site* from USGS The National Map**...
, Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
] (1948–1951) - Bergstrom Air Force BaseBergstrom Air Force BaseBergstrom Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located seven miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas. It was activated during World War II as a troop carrier training airfield, and was a front-line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(1951) - George Air Force BaseGeorge Air Force BaseGeorge Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within city limits, 8 miles northwest of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The facility was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1992 commission at the end of the Cold...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(1952) - Capital AirportAbraham Lincoln Capital Airport-Airport services:The airport has a Subway, a gift shop and an automated teller machine. TV and a lounge are also provided at the airport.-External links:* , official site* , official site* from USGS The National Map**...
, Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
(1952-present)
Aircraft operated
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1992–2008)
- F-16A/B Fighting Falcon (1989-1992)
- F-4D Phantom II (1981–1989)
- F-4C Phantom II (1972–1981)
- F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
(1955–1971) - 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) - Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (1952–1955)
- P-51H Mustang 1952-1953
- P-51D Mustang (1948–1952)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1996–1998