188th Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 188th Fighter Wing


caption= 188th Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 1953-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Fighter Wing
role= Air Support Wing
size=
command_structure= Air National Guard/Air Combat Command
current_commander= Colonel Kevin Wear
garrison= Fort Smith Regional Airport
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=Flying Razorbacks
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 188th Fighter Wing (188 FW) is an Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained unit of the Air National Guard (ANG) located at Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Mission

To provide air support for ground forces. [ [http://www.kfsm.com/global/story.asp?s=3770887&ClientType=Printable Fort Smith Air Guard base survives with new planes ] ]

History

The origin of the 188th Fighter Wing traces back to October 15, 1953, when the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was originated and federally recognized at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Dubbed "Rick's Rippers" in honor of Maj Gen Earl T. Ricks, former Adjutant General and highly decorated World War II Army Air Force pilot from Arkansas, the unit's first roll call was answered by 19 officers and 93 enlisted personnel.

The squadron's first mission was reconnaissance, flying the RB-26 Invader, a twin engine modified bomber. In 1956, the 184th transitioned to the RF-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft with a daylight photography mission. The following year brought their first swept-wing jet, the RF-84F Thunderflash. The unit continued to grow and was redesignated the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on October 15, 1962. In 1970, the 188th converted to the RF-101 Voodoo and continued its reconnaissance mission until 1972 when they received the F-100 Super Sabre and became the 188th Tactical Fighter Group (188 TFG). In 1976, the group became known as the Flying Razorbacks and was assigned the F-4C Phantom II in April 1979.

The 188th TFG was activated for one year during the Berlin Crisis of 1961, supported the Vietnamese airlift in 1975, and the Cuban boatlift in 1980. Time and again the 188th has proven itself in peacetime competition with other Air Force units, both active and reserve. The group represented the Air National Guard three times in the worldwide Air Force "GUNSMOKE" competitions at Nellis AFB, Nevada, winning top awards in the F-4 categories in 1983.

The 188th entered the era of high technology on July 1, 1988, with delivery of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, recognized as the world's finest multi-role fighter. On October 15, 1988, the 188th celebrated its formal F-16 acceptance and the group's 35th anniversary.

As a result of restructuring within the Air Force and Air National Guard, the 188th Tactical Fighter Group was re-designated as the 188th Fighter Group (188 FG) on March 16, 1992 and subsequently named the 188th Fighter Wing (188 FW) on October 1, 1995.

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Fort Smith Municipal Airport (MAP) Air National Guard Station (AGS), AR. DoD would distribute the 188th Fighter Wing’s (ANG) F-16s to the 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW), California Air National Guard at Fresno Air Terminal AGS, CA (seven aircraft) and retire the remainder (eight aircraft). As part of a larger recommendation that would also realign Luke AFB, AZ, DoD claimed that military value, coupled with homeland defense, was the predominant reason for these recommendations. The Air Force recommendation would realign 15 aircraft from Fort Smith (110) to Fresno (87), which would support the homeland defense Air Sovereignty Alert mission. Additionally, this recommendation would help align the eight different F-16 models across the Air Force. Finally, this recommendation would make experienced Airmen available to support the new ANG flying training unit created at Little Rock AFB, AR. These decisions were subsequently modified and in 2008, the 188 FW transitioned to the A-10 Thunderbolt II. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/188fw.htm]

Assignments

*Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2006)

Major Command

*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-Present)
*Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1953-1992)

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

*188th Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
*188th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
*188th Tactical Fighter Group (1972-1992)
*188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1962-1972)
*184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1953-1962)

Units assigned

*188th Operations Group
**184th Fighter Squadron (1953-Present)
**188th Operations Support Squadron
*188th Maintenance Group
**188th Maintenance Squadron
***188th Maintenance Operations Flight
**188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
*188th Mission Support Group
**188th Personnel Squadron
**188th Services Squadron
**188th Security Squadron
**188th Civil Engineers Squadron
**188th Logistics Readiness Squadron
*188th Medical Group

Bases stationed

*Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas (1953-Present)

Aircraft and missiles operated

*A-10 Thunderbolt II (2008-Present)
*F-16 Falcon (1988-2008)
*F-4C Phantom II (1976-1988)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1972-1976)
*RF-101 Voodoo (1970-1972)
*RF-84F Thunderflash (1957-1970)
*RF-80 Shooting Star (1956-1957)
*FA-26C Invader (1953-1956)World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

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.arftsm.ang.af.mil/site/FW.asp 188th Fighter Wing]