180th Fighter Wing
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| 180th Fighter Wing | |
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 180th Fighter Wing emblem |
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| Active | 1962-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force/Air National Guard |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | F-16C multi-role operations |
| Part of | Air National Guard/Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Toledo Express Airport, Ohio |
| Motto | We Citizens Serve Voluntarily |
The United States Air Force's 180th Fighter Wing is an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter organization assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard and located at the Toledo Express Airport, Ohio.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
[edit] History
The 180th Fighter Wing has as its progenitor the 112th Aero Squadron, created in 18 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas, as a supply unit. The squadron was re-designated the 633rd Aero Squadron in 1918 and demobilized on 19 August 1919.
On 20 June 1927, the unit was activated as part of the Ohio National Guard as the 112th Observation Squadron, consolidated with the 633rd Aero Squadron, and equipped with PT-1, BT-1, 0-2, and 0-11 aircraft based at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
The 112th OS was called into federal service at Pope Field, North Carolina, on 25 November 1940, with many of its members transferred to other units in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Lt.Col. Addison Baker, inducted into federal service while serving in the 112th OS, received the Medal of Honor while commanding the B-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force during a mission to Ploieşti, Romania, on August 1, 1943.
The 112th OS was briefly inactivated between 18 October 1942 and 30 April 1943, when it was re-formed as the 112th Liaison Squadron, flying L-4, L-5, UC-78 aircraft. The 122th LS deployed to England with the Ninth Air Force on 9 June 1944, then was based in France on 27 August 1944, and later in Germany on 21 June 1945, flying courier missions behind the front lines. The 112th LS was inactivated on 7 November 1945 at Drew Field, Florida.
The squadron was redesignated the 112th Bombardment Squadron (Light) and listed as an Air National Guard Squadron. In 1950 it was re-activated at Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia, with Douglas A-26 Invaders. In 1952 it was re-designated as the 112th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the Ohio Air National Guard at Akron-Canton Airport, and re-equipped with F-51 Mustangs.
In 1955, the unit next became the 112th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and moved to Toledo, where it re-equipped with the F-84 Thunderjet and F-84F Thunderstreak, and was redesignated the 112th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1958. The unit served during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, then provided the foundation of the newly-formed 180th Tactical Fighter Group in 1962.
The 180th TFG converted to the F-100 Super Sabre in 1971, and to the A-7 Corsair II in 1979. The 180th TFG received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1985 and 1990. In 1989, while on temporary duty in Panama, its A-7s participated in Operation Just Cause. Volunteer members served in the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991 during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
The group became the 180th Fighter Wing in 1993, and its subordinate unit, the 112th Fighter Squadron, was equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon. In 1996, 1998, and 1999 the 180th FW enforced the no-fly zones over Iraq in Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Northern Watch.
[edit] Assignments
[edit] Major Command
- Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-Present)
- Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1962-1992)
[edit] Previous designations[1]
- 180th Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
- 180th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
- 180th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1992)
[edit] Squadrons assigned
[edit] Bases stationed
- Toledo Express Airport, (1962-Present)
[edit] Aircraft & Missiles Operated[2]
- F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1991-Present)
- A-7D Corsair II (1979-1991)
- F-100 Super Sabre (1971-1979)
- F-84E Thunderjet (1962-1971)
[edit] Decorations
[edit] References
- ^ Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
- ^ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
- ^ Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)
[edit] External links
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