180th Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 180th Fighter Wing


caption= 180th Fighter Wing emblem
dates= 1962-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force/Air National Guard
type= Wing
role= F-16C multi-role operations
size=
command_structure= Air National Guard/Air Combat Command
current_commander=
garrison= Toledo Express Airport, Ohio
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= We Citizens Serve Voluntarily
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 180th Fighter Wing is an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter organization assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard and located at the Toledo Express Airport, Ohio.

Mission

The 180th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to train, organize, and equip expeditionary war fighters to deploy, fight, and win world-wide, with minimum response time, in cases of national emergency or war.

History

The 180th Fighter Wing has as its progenitor the "112th Aero Squadron", created in 18 August 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas, as a supply unit. The squadron was re-designated the 633rd Aero Squadron in 1918 and demobilized on 19 August 1919.

On 20 June 1927, the unit was activated as part of the Ohio National Guard as the "112th Observation Squadron", consolidated with the 633rd Aero Squadron, and equipped with PT-1, BT-1, 0-2, and 0-11 aircraft based at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

The 112th OS was called into federal service at Pope Field, North Carolina, on 25 November 1940, with many of its members transferred to other units in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Lt.Col. Addison Baker, inducted into federal service while serving in the 112th OS, received the Medal of Honor while commanding the B-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force during a mission to Ploieşti, Romania, on August 1, 1943.

The 112th OS was briefly inactivated between 18 October 1942 and 30 April 1943, when it was re-formed as the "112th Liaison Squadron", flying L-4, L-5, UC-78 aircraft. The 122th LS deployed to England with the Ninth Air Force on 9 June 1944, then was based in France on 27 August 1944, and later in Germany on 21 June 1945, flying courier missions behind the front lines. The 112th LS was inactivated on 7 November 1945 at Drew Field, Florida.

The squadron was redesignated the "112th Bombardment Squadron (Light)" and listed as an Air National Guard Squadron. In 1950 it was re-activated at Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia, with Douglas A-26 Invaders. In 1952 it was re-designated as the "112th Fighter-Bomber Squadron" of the Ohio Air National Guard at Akron-Canton Airport, and re-equipped with F-51 Mustangs.

In 1955, the unit next became the "112th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron" and moved to Toledo, where it re-equipped with the F-84 Thunderjet and F-84F Thunderstreak, and was redesignated the "112th Tactical Fighter Squadron" in 1958. The unit served during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, then provided the foundation of the newly-formed "180th Tactical Fighter Group" in 1962.

The 180th TFG converted to the F-100 Super Sabre in 1971, and to the A-7 Corsair II in 1979. The 180th TFG received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1985 and 1990. In 1989, while on temporary duty in Panama, its A-7s participated in Operation Just Cause. Volunteer members served in the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991 during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

The group became the "180th Fighter Wing" in 1993, and its subordinate unit, the 112th Fighter Squadron, was equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon. In 1996, 1998, and 1999 the 180th FW enforced the no-fly zones over Iraq in Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Northern Watch.

Assignments

Major Command

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

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

*180th Fighter Wing (1995-Present)
*180th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
*180th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1992)

quadrons assigned

*112th Fighter Squadron

Bases stationed

*Toledo Express Airport, (1962-Present)

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

*F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1991-Present)
*A-7D Corsair II (1979-1991)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1971-1979)
*F-84F Thunderstreak (1962-1971)

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.180fw.ang.af.mil/ 180th Fighter Wing: Ohio Air National Guard]