120th Airlift Wing

Last updated

120th Airlift Wing
120th Fighter Wing - Formation.jpg
120th Fighter Wing – Formation
Active1955 – present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
AllegianceFlag of Montana.svg  Montana
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
TypeWing
RoleTactical Airlift
Size900+
Part of Montana Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Great Falls, Montana
Motto(s)Vigilantes - Ready to Ride!
Tail CodeWhite tail stripe "Montana"; Steer/mountain skyline
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Trace N. Thomas
Insignia
120th Airlift Wing emblem 120 AW Patch 190423-Z-MF976-002.png

The 120th Airlift Wing (120 AW) is a unit of the Montana Air National Guard, stationed at Great Falls Air National Guard Base at Great Falls International Airport, Montana. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

Contents

Mission

The 120th Airlift Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard, serves a dual mission:

Units

The 120th Airlift Wing consists of the following units:

186th Airlift Squadron

History

On 1 July 1955, the Montana Air National Guard 186th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 120th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 186th FIS becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 120th Headquarters, 120th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 120th Combat Support Squadron, and the 120th USAF Dispensary. The group was gained by the 29th Air Division, Air Defense Command with a mission for the air defense of the northern tier of the United States. The Group Commander, Col. Rodger D. Young was promoted to Brig. General in 1966 and became Chief of Staff of Air for the 120th until his retirement in 1973.

In 1958, the 120th implemented the ADC Runway Alert Program, in which interceptors of the 186th FIS were committed to a five-minute runway alert, a task that would last for 38 years. The arrival of the F-102 Delta Dagger in 1966 ushered in the supersonic age. In 1968 Air Defense Command was re-designated as Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM). In 1972, the unit was redesignated the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Group and assigned the F-106 Delta Dart, the first Air National Guard unit to receive this aircraft. With the F-106, the squadron competed in and won its first William Tell, a live-fire missile competition held at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Performed air defense duties along the northern tier of the United States until 1978 when ADCOM was merged into Tactical Air Command. Continued air defense mission for ADTAC component of TAC with the F-106s, transferring to First Air Force when ADTAC was replaced in 1985.

A three-ship formation of Air National Guard F-16s fly over Kunsan City, South Korea. F-16s over Kunsan City South Korea.jpg
A three-ship formation of Air National Guard F-16s fly over Kunsan City, South Korea.

The 186th FS converted from the F-106A to the F-16A/B Fighting Falcon in mid-1987. The conversion happened earlier than was scheduled and the 186th FIS was to be the last squadron to lose its F-106s. The first aircraft were older block 5 and 10 models with some block 15 airframes also being delivered to the squadron. Main task for the unit was air defense, as with many ANG units who were equipped with the F-16. In 1991 the F-16s were brought up to the Air Defense Fighter (ADF) variant. This meant a serious leap in performance and capability of this squadron in their defensive role. This situation was maintained up until 2001 when the squadron started receiving more modern F-16C block 30 aircraft with larger intakes. This conversion replaced the air defense mission with one of general purpose/air-to-ground as part of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force.

With the conversion, unit members felt it was time to consider a change in the aircraft tail markings. The most notable change included the 186th Fighter Squadron's nickname of "Vigilantes". The nickname by the pilots of the 186th is intended to honor the first men in the Montana Territory who organized for the safety and welfare of the people.

The squadron once again found itself on alert status after the terrorism attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Base personnel implemented the necessary procedures to establish a secure environment while maintaining a 24-hour alert status for aircraft. During 2002, hundreds of unit personnel were activated and deployed to multiple locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the world.

As a result of the 2005 BRAC decisions the unit converted to the F-15C/D during 2008 and revert to an all-air defense unit. In early December 2007 the first F-16 left Great Falls being transferred to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont ANG. By the summer of 2008, eighteen F-15C Eagles had been transferred from the 131st Fighter Wing at St. Louis due to its conversion to the 131st Bomb Wing, flying the B-2 stealth bomber.

Beginning in the summer of 2013, the Wing began the process of transferring its F-15C aircraft to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard. The final F-15 aircraft departed Great Falls on 24 October 2013. The 120th received their first C-130H from the 19th Airlift Wing on 1 March 2014

Lineage

Extended federal recognition and activated, 1 July 1955
Re-designated: 120th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 July 1972
Re-designated: 120th Fighter Group, 15 Mar 1992
Status changed from Group to Wing, 1 October 1995
Re-designated: 120th Fighter Wing, 1 October 1995
Re-designated: 120th Airlift Wing, 1 March 2014

Assignments

Gained by: Great Falls Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command
Gained by: 28th Air Division, Air Defense Command, 1 April 1966
Gained by: 24th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, 1 January 1970
Gained by: Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC), 1 October 1979
Gained by: First Air Force, Tactical Air Command, 9 December 1985
Gained by: Northwest Air Defense Sector (NWADS), 1 July 1987
Gained by: Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), 1 October 1997
Jointly Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 September 2001
Jointly Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 March 2014

Components

Assigned to 120 OG effective 1 October 1995

Stations

Designated: Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Montana, 1991 – present
Detachment 1 operated from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (undetermined dates)

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">142nd Wing</span> Military unit

The 142nd Wing is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard and the United States Air Force, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">103rd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 103rd Airlift Wing is a unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard, stationed at Bradley Air National Guard Base at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the 103 AW is operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">113th Wing</span> Military unit

The 113th Wing, known as the "Capital Guardians", is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. If activated to federal service, the fighter portion of the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, while the airlift portion is gained by Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">119th Wing</span> Military unit

The 119th Wing is a composite unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard, stationed at Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota. If activated to federal service, elements of the Wing are gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">124th Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 124th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard, stationed at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho. It operates the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">125th Fighter Wing</span> Florida Air National Guard unit

The 125th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Florida Air National Guard, stationed at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the 125 FW is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">144th Fighter Wing</span> Unit of the California Air National Guard

The 144th Fighter Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. As part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">136th Airlift Wing</span> Unit of the Texas Air National Guard

The 136th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Mobility Command (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th Wing</span> Military unit

The 140th Wing is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard, stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">158th Fighter Wing</span> Vermont Air National Guard unit

The 158th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Vermont Air National Guard, stationed at Burlington Air National Guard Base, Burlington, Vermont. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The mission of the 158th Fighter Wing was to utilize the F-16 Fighting Falcon to provide a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. They have since ceased the use of the F-16, and started receiving the F-35 in September 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">159th Fighter Wing</span> Louisiana Air National Guard unit

The 159th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Louisiana Air National Guard, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana. If activated to federal service, it is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">127th Air Refueling Group</span> Military unit

The 127th Air Refueling Group is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard, assigned to the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montana Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Montana Air National Guard (MT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Montana, United States of America. Along with the Montana Army National Guard it is an element of the Montana National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">171st Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 171st Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. The 171st is equipped with the KC-135T Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">187th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 187th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Wyoming Air National Guard 153d Airlift Wing. located at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming. The 187th is equipped with the C-130 Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">159th Fighter Squadron</span> Florida Air National Guard unit

The 159th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing located at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base at Jacksonville International Airport, Florida. The 159th is currently equipped with the F-15C and F-15D Eagle and is slated to transition to the F-35A Lightning II in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">194th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 194th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. The 194th is equipped with the F-15 Eagle and like its parent wing, the 144th, is operationally-gained within the active U.S. Air Force by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123d Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">186th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 186th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana. The 186th is equipped with the C-130H Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">107th Attack Wing</span> New York Air National Guard unit

The 107th Attack Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York. The 107th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency