148th Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=148th Fighter Wing


caption=148th Fighter Wing Insignia
dates=July 1 1960-Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Wing
role= Fighter
size=
command_structure=Air National Guard
current_commander=
garrison=Duluth International Airport
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The 148th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Minnesota National Guard based at Duluth International Airport. It falls under 1st Air Force and Air Combat Command. The 179th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is the flying component of the 148 FW and is equipped with the F-16C Fighting Falcon.

Mission

Provide the Best Trained Personnel to defeat America's Adversaries with Speed and Precision in War and Respond to State and Local Emergencies in Times of Peace. [ [http://www.mndulu.ang.af.mil/commander.htm Welcome to the 148th Fighter Wing ] ]

History

The unit began as the 179th Fighter Squadron on September 17 1948, under the command of the 133rd Fighter Wing. On July 1 1960, the 148th Fighter Group was formed and the 179 FS began 24-hour alert status as a part of Air Defense Command.

In 1976 the unit became the 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, flying the RF-4C Phantom II. The designation was changed again in 1983 when the unit became the 148th Fighter Interceptor Group. In 1990 the unit received the F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter. Another name change was instituted on March 17th, 1992, and the unit was once again the 148th Fighter Group.

On October 11 1995, the unit became the 148th Fighter Wing. Detachment 1 of the unit assumed alert status at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. In 1999 the mission was changed from Air Superiority to General Purpose, and the unit began practicing delivery of air-to-ground weapons.

In 2003 the unit traded their F-16A Block 15 aircraft for newer, more capable, F-16C Block 25 models. In 2005 the Department of Defense recommended to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) retiring the F-16s of the 148 FW, because the older Block 25 is becoming harder and costlier to maintain. However, the BRAC eventually voted to let the unit keep their current aircraft.

[http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/rss_feeds/videopodcast/17Memoriesofthe148th.mov Memories of the 148th - A Living History.]

Assignments

Major Command

*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-Present)
*Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1976-1992)
*Air National Guard/Air Defense Command (1960-1976)

Previous designations

*148th Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
*148th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
*148th Fighter Interceptor Group (1983-1992)
*148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1976-1983)
*148th Fighter Group (1960-1976)

quadrons assigned

*179th Fighter Squadron

Bases stationed

*Duluth International Airport (1960-Present)
**Tyndall Air Force Base (Detachment 1) (1995-Present)

Aircraft operated

*F-16C Fighting Falcon (2003-Present)
*F-16A Fighting Falcon (1990-2003)
*F-4D Phantom II (1983-1990)
*RF-4C Phantom II (1976-1983)
*F-101 Voodoo (1971-1976)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (1967-1971)
*F-89J Scorpion (1969-1971)
*F-94C Starfire (1957-1969)
*F-94 Starfire (1954-1957)
*P-51 Mustang (1948-1954)

Decorations

References

External links

* [http://www.148FW.ang.af.mil 148th Fighter Wing website]
* [http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/ Minnesota National Guard]