142d Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 142d Fighter Wing


caption= 142d Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 19xx-Present
country= United States
branch= United States Air Force/Air National Guard
type= Wing
role= Fighter Patrol
size=
command_structure= Colonel John E. Kent
current_commander=
garrison= Portland International Airport
ceremonial_chief=
nickname= Redhawks
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 142d Fighter Wing is a unit located in Oregon.

Mission

To serve the nation, State, and community by providing mission-ready units, personnel and equipment for:

* Air defense of the Pacific Northwest.
* Domination of the air superiority arena.
* Federal augmentation in support of national security objectives.
* Response to state and local contingencies
* Proactive involvement in activities that add value to the people and communities which we serve.

History

142d Fighter Wing

The Oregon Air National Guard and 142d Fighter Wing's history begins just prior to the United States entering World War II, as the U.S. government, monitoring the war in Europe and China, began focusing less on neutrality and more on preparedness. Answering the call to arms, Major G. Robert Dodson, an Oregonian serving with the 321st Observation Squadron Reserve at Pearson Field, Vancouver, Washington, requested the National Guard Bureau's authorization to form an Oregon flying unit. His short, official request - "We've got people, we've got a place, and we're ready!" - launched the 123d Observation Squadron on April 18, 1941.

Five months later the squadron was federally activated under different unit designations flying the O-47, BC-1A and later the F-5 reconnaissance version of the P-38 in the China-Burma theatre and with others serving in Europe. At the war's end, the unit regrouped as the 123d Fighter Squadron. By 1946, the ever-expanding unit was redesignated the 142d Fighter Interceptor Group.

In 1951 , the group mobilized in support of the Korean War. After supporting the Korean conflict it remained very active in air defense matters through the intervening Cold War years, eventually becoming a Fighter Wing in 1995. Since it's creation the wing has flown the O-47, BC-1A, F-5, F-51, B-25J, F-86, F-94, F-89, F-102, F-101, F-4C, T-33 and a host of support aircraft. Today the fighting "Redhawks" are proud to continue service as a component of the Total Force in defense of our nation flying the F-15A/B, providing both continuous air defense and air superiority capabilities. With more than 1,000 officers and airmen, the unit guards the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border, on 24-hour alert as part of the North American Air Defense (NORAD) system.

As a vital asset to Air Combat Command and Air Expeditionary Force structures, the 142d Fighter Wing participates around the globe supporting drug interdiction where needed, USAFE air defense, as well as contingency operations over Iraq for both Operations Northern Watch in Turkey and Southern Watch in Saudi Arabia.

The base was selected by the 2005 BRAC to close. 11th hour negotiations between the political delegations from the states of Washington and Oregon saved the base from closure. Ironically the argument made by several groups to save the base was that of the NORAD mission it performed and the air cover it provided for the Pacific Northwest was essential to Homeland Security. However the 2005 BRAC commission recommended keeping a small detachment in place at the base in order to support NORAD but close all other operations. As part of the recommendations of the 2005 BRAC, the 939th Air Refueling Wing, US Air Force Reserve (who flew KC-135 Aircraft) which was collocated on the Portland Air Base has terminated operations.

On June 26, 2007, an F-15 Eagle from the 142d fighter wing crashed into the pacific ocean during a simulated dogfight. Four F-15s from the 142d were flying with four F/A-18 Hornets from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base performing dissimilar air combat training. The United States Coast Guard performed a search using two HH-60 Jayhawks, two Coast Guard Cutters, and one C-130 Hercules. The night of the crash, the pilot, Maj. Gregory Young's body was found 40 miles west of Cannon Beach, Oregon. [ [http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_062707_news_f15_jet_crash_details_body_found.1d9fa8ab.html Details about F-15 jet crash, discovery of pilot's body | Local News | kgw.com |News for Oregon and SW Washington ] ] The crash is currently under investigation.

Assignments

Major Command

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

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

*142d Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
*142d Fighter Group (1992-1995)
*142d Fighter Interceptor Group (???-1992)

Units assigned

*142d Maintenance Group
**142d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**142d Maintenance Squadron
**142d Maintenance Operations Flight
*142d Operations Group
**123d Fighter Squadron
**142d Operations Support Flight
*142d Mission Support Group
**142d Civil Engineering Squadron
**142d Logistics Readiness Squadron
**142d Security Forces Squadron
**142d Communications Flight
**142d Contracting Flight
**142d Environmental Management
**142d Mission Support Flight
**142d Services Flight
*142d Medical Group

The Portland, Oregon Air National Guard Base is also host to several major tenant units. The Air National Guard tenant units located at Portland are:

* 125th Special Tactics Sq.
* 272d Combat Communications Sq.
* 366th OL-A Communications Sq.
* 123d Weather Flight

Bases stationed

*Portland International Airport (???-Present)

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

*F-15A/B Eagle (1989-Present)
*C-130A Hercules (???-???)
*C-131 Samaritan (???-???)
*F-4C Phantom II (???-1989)
*F-101 Voodoo (???-???)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (???-???)
*F-89 Scorpion (???-???)
*F-94 Starfire (???-???)
*F-86 Sabre (???-???)
*B-25J Mitchell(???-???)
*F-51 Mustang (???-???)
*F-5 Lightning (???-???)
*North American BC-1A (???-???)
*North American O-47 (???-???)

Decorations

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

References

External links

* [http://www.142fw.ang.af.mil/ 142nd FW home page]
* [https://www.aef.org/magazine/April2002/0402redhawk.pdf Air Force Magazine Article on the 142d]