177th Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 177th Fighter Wing


caption= 177th Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 19xx-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Wing
role= Air Defense
size=
command_structure= Air National Guard/Air Combat Command
current_commander=
garrison= Atlantic City IAP, New Jersey
ceremonial_chief=
nickname="Jersey Devils"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 177th Fighter Wing is a Air National Guard fighter unit located at Atlantic City IAP, New Jersey.

Mission

"Federal Mission:" provide combat-ready citizen airmen, aircraft and equipment for worldwide deployment in support of United States Air Force objectives.

"State Mission:" support the citizens of New Jersey by protecting life and property, preserving the peace, order, and public safety when called upon by the Governor.

History

The 177th Fighter Wing traces its roots back to September 17, 1917, when it was organized as the 119th Aero Squadron located at Langley Field, Virginia. A few years later the 119th was inactivated and remained inactive until September 1928 when it was reorganized as the 119th Observation Squadron, New Jersey National Guard, at Metropolitan Airport, Newark, New Jersey as an Air Arm of the 44th Division Aviation and received Federal Recognition in January 1930.

In 1934, aircraft of the 119th Observation Squadron were dispatched to the scene of the " [Morro Castle] ", a ship burning off the coast of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Many hours were spent flying over the ship and adjacent water assisting in the direction of rescue efforts and locating survivors. The 119th Observation Squadron fell victim to the "draft" on September 16, 1940, when it was inducted into active service. The unit continued as the 119th until April 12, 1948, at which time it became the 490th Fighter Squadron. The 490th was disbanded in May 1944 while still at Thomasville, Georgia. It was later reconstituted on June 21, 1945, and redesignated the 119th Fighter Squadron (SE) on May 24, 1946, and allotted to the Air National Guard with P47 "'Thunderbolts" at Newark, New Jersey.

The 119th moved to the former Atlantic City Naval Air Station, now known as the William J. Hughes Technical Center, on August 5, 1958. This change of station also brought about a change in aircraft to the F-84F. The 119th was called to active duty again in October of 1961, for the Berlin Crisis. The unit remained at home station; however, the pilots were periodically rotated to Chaumont Air Base, France.

In 1962, the unit was reorganized into the 177th Tactical Fighter Group, and transitioned into F-86H aircraft. Two years later, the unit transitioned into F-100 "Super Sabres".

In January of 1968, a new crisis, the seizure of the American ship USS Pueblo by North Korean forces, and again the 119th was called to active duty. In May 1968, the 177 'TFG/119 TFS was assigned to the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. Personnel were spread throughout the United States, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam with the main unit stationed at the 113 TFW. The 177 TFG/119 TFS returned to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in June 1969, and transitioned into the F-105 'Thunderchief" in 1970.

In 1972, Headquarters Air Force announced that the 177 TFG would be assigned to the Aerospace Defense Command and be responsible for protecting the United States from airborne attacks, and so was reorganized as the 177th Fighter Interceptor Group and 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. In 1973, the unit transitioned into the F-106 "Delta Dart" and assumed alert status the following year. The Aerospace Defense Command then came under TAC as the Air Defense Tactical Air Command (ADTAC), and then again changed to a numbered Air Force, 1st Air Force.

October 1984, the 177FIG participated in the air defense community's Worldwide Weapons Meet, known as William Tell", at Tyndall AFB, Florida. The unit captured the Special Achievement Award for Professionalism and Team Spirit, Overall Best Looking Aircraft, Best F-106 Team, Major Richard I. Bong Fighter Interceptor Award, Top Gun Award, F- 106 Category Best Looking Aircraft Award, the Pratt and Whitney Award, the Sperry Corporation Award, and the General Dynamics Corporation Award.

During 1988, the unit transitioned into the F-16A/B, "Fighting Falcon", and received an "excellent" rating during its first Operational Readiness Inspection with the F-16 in October 1989.

During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, 73 members of the 177 FIG were called to active duty, and others served as volunteers. Fire fighters and Food Services personnel from the 177th Civil Engineering Squadron, elements of the 177th USAF Clinic, members of the Transportation section of the 177th Resource Management Squadron, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel from the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron provided backfill at various bases whose members had been deployed to Saudi Arabia. Those activated from the 177th Security Police Flight served at home station. And the 177th Chaplain's Assistant completed a five-month tour of active duty in Saudi Arabia. All members were returned to normal Guard status at home base by July 1991.

From January 18-26 and March 14-21 1998, the wing provided Operational Readiness Inspection support for 125th FW, based in Jacksonville, Florida. This included six aircraft and 35 support personnel deployed to the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) at Savannah, Georgia. The deployment lasted from January 18 through 26. 177th personnel also provided support for the 108th ARW’s Operational Readiness Exercise from March 14 through 21, also held at the CRTC. The 177th participated in a live missile firing exercise - COMBAT ARCHER - at Tyndall AFB, Florida. 12 pilots and 60 maintenance personnel deployed to support this exercise from February 1 through 14.

From May 1 through June 13, 1998, the wing deployed five F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft and 46 personnel to Howard AFB, Panama, in support of OPERATION CORONET NIGHTHAWK. 130 personnel rotated on a two-week basis during the six-week deployment. Operating as part of a joint interagency task force, the wing’s role was to detect and identify suspected drug smuggling aircraft. Once identified, the suspected aircraft are turned over to law enforcement agencies for apprehension.

The 177th FW deployed from November to December 2000 to Saudi Arabia, as part of Aerospace Expeditionary Force 9 in support of Operation Southern Watch. The 177th has previously deployed personnel in support of both Operations Northern and Southern Watch

Assignments

Major Command

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

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

*177th Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
*177th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
*177th Fighter Interceptor Group (1972-1992)
*177th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1972)

quadrons assigned

*119th Fighter Squadron (1947-Present)

Bases stationed

*Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey (1958-Present)

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

*F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1994-Present)
*F-16A ADF Fighting Falcon (1988-1994)
*F-106A/B Delta Dart (1973-1988)
*F-105B Thunderchief (1970-1973)
*F-100C Super Sabre (1963-1970)
*F-86H Sabre (1962-1963)
*F-84F Thunderstreak (1958-1962)
*F-86E Sabre (1955-1958)
*P-51D Mustang (???-???)
*P-51H Mustang (???-???)
*P-47D Thunderbolt (1947-???)

Decorations

*

References

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/177fw.htm 177th Fighter Wing] at GlobalSecurity.org

External links

* [http://www.njatla.ang.af.mil/ New Jersey ANG: 177th Fighter Wing]