187th Fighter Wing

187th Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 187th Fighter Wing


caption= 187th Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 1962-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Fighter Unit
role= Air Combat
size=
command_structure=Air National Guard
current_commander=
garrison= Montgomery Regional Airport, Alabama
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Berlin Crisis, Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 187th Fighter Wing (187 FW) is a unit located at Dannelly Field, Alabama.

Mission

To provide the state Governor, National Command Authority, and Combatant Commanders with a superbly equipped and trained general purpose F-16C+ Block 30 Aviation Package, associated Expeditionary Combat Support functions and RC-26B counter drug package for world-wide combat and peacetime/humanitarian tasking in support of our community, state, and national interests.

History

160th Fighter Squadron (1947)

The roots of the 187th Fighter Wing date back to 1952 when the Alabama Air National Guard organized the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama equipped with the RF-51 Mustang. The squadron moved to Dannelly Field on January 1, 1953, and entered the jet age with the arrival of the RF-80 in 1955. Within a year the 160th transitioned to the RF-84 Thunderflash aircraft, which served as the squadron’s primary aircraft for the next 15 years.

187th Tactical Fighter Group (1962)

The squadron was mobilized during the Berlin Crisis in 1961-1962. In August 1962, the squadron returned to normal peacetime status and was reorganized. It was then officially designated the 187th Reconnaissance Group.

In 1971, the Thunderflash was replaced by the RF-4C Phantom II, which was flown for 17 years. From 1971-1982, the group remained in the reconnaissance role. The 187th won many honors during this timeframe, including the best reconnaissance unit in the nation in the Photo Finish "81" competition.

In 1982, the 187th changed missions from reconnaissance to the multi-purpose fighter role after acquiring the F-4D. The Group established itself as a premier tactical fighter unit by capturing overall top honors in the ANG Fangsmoke competition in 1987. In October 1988, the Group converted to the F-16 aircraft.

187th Fighter Group (1992)

With the inactivation of Tactical Air Command in 1992, all tactical wings were redesignated; hence the 187th Tactical Fighter Group, became the 187th Fighter Group.

187th Fighter Wing (1995)

In October 1995, the Group was designated a Wing under Air Force reorganization; becoming the 187th Fighter Wing. Since 1990, the 187th has undertaken an ambitious and successful regimen of participation in many Total Force deployments. These deployments have taken the men and women of the 187th to exercises in South Korea, Norway, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other stateside locations. By far the most significant deployments have been for contingency operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In 1995, the unit deployed for a 30-day rotation to Incirlik Airbase, Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort II. The following year, the Wing deployed to Al Jaber Airbase, Kuwait for Operation Southern Watch. Then in 1997, the Wing returned to Incirlik for Operation Northern Watch. These operations were to enforce the respective northern and southern no-fly zones over Iraq.

Immediately following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the downing of United Airlines Flight 93 in a Pennsylvania field the 187th was called into action. Within hours of the attacks the 187th had jets in the air flying Combat Air Patrol missions over the largest cities in the southeastern United States. The unit sustained this effort for Operation Noble Eagle for one year following the events of September 11.

The 187th was again called to active duty in January 2003 until April 2003 as part of the largest military mobilization since the 1991Gulf War. This marked the largest unit activation in the units 50 year history with over 500 personnel being deployed along with aircraft and equipment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 187th, as an integral part of the Total Force, deployed to an undisclosed Middle Eastern location as the lead unit, commanding a mixture of Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Active Air Force and British Air Force units comprising the 410th Air Expeditionary Wing. This marked the largest integration of coalition Air and Special Forces Operations in history with over 3,500 personnel operating out of this location. The 410th‘s mission was to prevent Iraqi missile launches against coalition forces and neighboring countries.

In September 2004 the unit again deployed over 300 personnel with aircraft and equipment to Al Udeid, Qatar for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This deployment also marked a significant first for the unit and the U.S. Military. The 187th was the first unit to ever use the GBU-38 in combat. The GBU-38 is a 500 lb global positioning system (GPS) guided bomb which, while being very effective, minimizes collateral damage. The GBU-38 is a precision guided munition commonly referred to as a “Smart Bomb”. This weapon was effectively employed by the 187th in the Battle of Fallujah.

The many accomplishments of the 187th Fighter Wing have received praise and recognition from the highest levels of the U.S. military leadership. The unit enjoyed nineteen years and over 55,000 flight hours without a Class A aircraft mishap and has received numerous Flight Safety awards from the Air Force Air Combat Command and the Air National Guard for its safety record. The Wing has also been recognized by Air Combat Command and the 9th Air Force Inspector General for excellence during Operational Readiness Inspections and Unit Compliance Inspections over the last two decades.

Assignments

Major Command

*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-Present)
*Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1962-1992)

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

* 187th Fighter Wing (1992-Present)
* 187th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
* 187th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1992)

quadrons assigned

*160th Fighter Squadron (1947-2007)
*100th Fighter Squadron (2007-present)

Bases stationed

*Dannelly Field, Alabama (1962-Present)

Aircraft & Missiles OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

*RC-26B Metroliner (???-Present)
*F-16C Fighting Falcon (???-Present)
*F-16A/B Fighting Falcon (1988-???)
*F-4D Phantom II (1983-1988)
*F-4C Phantom II (1971-1983)
*RF-84F Thunderstreak (1956-1971)
*RF-80 Shooting Star (1955-1956)
*RF-51D Mustang (1952-1955)
*RF-80A Shooting Star (1951-1952)
*P-51D Mustang (1947-1951)

Decorations

* [http://wwa.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AwardsNet/SearchUnitAwards.aspx?Mode=Graphics Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)]
** 1998-2000
** 1995-1997
** 1991-1993

ee also

*F-16 Fighting Falcon
*Air National Guard
*United States Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.almont.ang.af.mil/default.htm 187th Fighter Wing: Alabama Air National Guard]


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