- 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 theOhio Air National Guard and located at theToledo 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 on19 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 withPT-1 ,BT-1 ,0-2 , and0-11 aircraft based atCleveland Hopkins Airport .The 112th OS was called into federal service at Pope Field,
North Carolina , on25 November 1940 , with many of its members transferred to other units in theU.S. Army Air Forces . Lt.Col.Addison Baker , inducted into federal service while serving in the 112th OS, received theMedal of Honor while commanding theB-24 Liberator 93rd Bomb Group of theEighth Air Force during a mission toPloieşti ,Romania , onAugust 1 ,1943 .The 112th OS was briefly inactivated between
18 October 1942 and30 April 1943 , when it was re-formed as the "112th Liaison Squadron", flying L-4,L-5 ,UC-78 aircraft. The 122th LS deployed toEngland with theNinth Air Force on9 June 1944 , then was based in France on27 August 1944 , and later in Germany on21 June 1945 , flying courier missions behind the front lines. The 112th LS was inactivated on7 November 1945 atDrew 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 DouglasA-26 Invader s. In 1952 it was re-designated as the "112th Fighter-Bomber Squadron" of the Ohio Air National Guard atAkron-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 andF-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 theA-7 Corsair II in 1979. The 180th TFG received theAir Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1985 and 1990. In 1989, while on temporary duty inPanama , its A-7s participated inOperation Just Cause . Volunteer members served in thePersian Gulf in 1990-1991 during Operation Desert Shield andOperation 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 overIraq inOperation Provide Comfort andOperation 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
References
External links
* [http://www.180fw.ang.af.mil/ 180th Fighter Wing: Ohio Air National Guard]
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