124th Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

's 124th Fighter Wing (124 FW) is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

 unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....

 (ACC). The 124 FW is located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, in Boise, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....

.

Mission

The federal mission of the 124th Fighter Wing under Title 10 United States Code is to properly equip and train personnel in a high state of readiness for immediate tasking as levied by higher headquarters as part of the Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force. Its state mission under Title 32 United States Code is to, at the call of the Governor of the State of Idaho, provide personnel and equipment to assist civil authorities prior to, during and after emergencies or disasters; to protect life, property, preserve peace, order and public safety.

History

Idaho’s Air National Guard was established in 1946, and has quietly celebrated more than a half-century of volunteer service to Idaho and the nation by thousands of citizen-airmen. The state’s first Air Guard unit, the 190th Fighter Squadron, was created Oct. 13, 1946, under the command of Lt Col Thomas G. Lanphier, USAAF, the pilot credited with downing the bomber carrying Japan’s Admiral Yamamoto in the South Pacific during World War II. Like Lanphier, most of Idaho’s early air national guardsmen were veterans of the war. The volunteers — 23 officers and 44 enlisted men — met one night each week in a small building on Fort Street in downtown Boise.

“They had nothing. No airplanes, no buildings. No money. Not even an airfield,” said retired Col W.D. Bozeman, one of the group’s founding members. “But they had determination and skills and hope.”

Recruiting new members for the fledgling fighter squadron had the highest priority. Pay was low — $10 per month for enlisted members — and, without airplanes to fly, there was little for unit members to do during their weekly training periods.

“Finally, someone brought cider and doughnuts to a drill,” said retired Brig Gen Jim Trail, a member of the original unit who would eventually command the squadron and serve as Idaho’s Assistant Adjutant General. “That may have been the first recruiting and retention program in the Idaho Air Guard.”

The 190th Fighter Squadron’s first airplane was the famous P-51D Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...

, which became the F-51D
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...

 in 1947 when the newly-established U.S Air Force reclassified former pursuit aircraft as fighters. The squadron moved to Gowen Field, a former Army Air Forces training base south of Boise’s Air Terminal, in 1947, and Idaho’s citizen airmen have shared local runways with commercial and general aviation ever since.

In 1950, the airmen and their Mustangs were called to active duty — the only full-scale mobilization in the Idaho Air National Guard’s history — to replace Air Force units sent to Korea. Idaho entered the jet age in 1953, trading aging Mustangs for the F-86A Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...

, America’s first swept-wing fighter. The 190th, part of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Defense Command (ADC), changed aircraft four more times over the next 23 years to fly the F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...

, F-89 Scorpion
F-89 Scorpion
The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...

, F-86L Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...

 and F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...

.

In 1975, the 190th Fighter Squadron changed its name and mission to join the newly-formed 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (124 TRG) as the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, flying the RF-4C Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...

, a Mach 2 two-seat twin-engine fighter modified for high-speed reconnaissance. Phantoms would eventually spend 20 years on Gowen Field, longer than any other aircraft in the history of the Idaho Air National Guard.

Idaho’s first Phantom, the unarmed RF-4C, carried high resolution cameras and electronic sensors, which soon proved their worth to thousands of people in Idaho. Phantom jets tracked flood waters pouring from the ruptured Teton Dam within hours of the dam’s collapse to show officials where flood waters were headed in time to warn people living in endangered areas.

Aerial photographs taken immediately after the Challis earthquake helped emergency response crews locate and evaluate damage. Idaho aircrews excelled in their military mission as well. Two Idaho fliers were named “Best Aerial Reconnaissance Aircrew” at an international competition. The 124th was named “Best Flying Unit in the Air National Guard” and received the prestigious Spaatz Trophy from the National Guard Association. Idaho airmen and Phantom jets went to Canada and Norway to provide critical tactical reconnaissance capabilities to U.S. and NATO forces.

In 1991, the Idaho Air National Guard changed aircraft and mission again. The unarmed RF-4C Phantoms were replaced by F-4G Wild Weasel
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...

 fighters and in 1992 the 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group became the 124th Fighter Group (124 FG), operationally gained by the U.S. Air Force’s newly established Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....

 (ACC). In 1993, Idaho’s Wild Weasel jets were sent to Southwest Asia to support Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...

, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq.

Twice, Idaho airmen were challenged by Iraqi air defense radars and the threats were answered — and silenced — with AGM-88 High-speed Anti-radiation Missiles (HARM). The 124th earned the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award — presented to the unit personally by the Secretary of the Air Force — for its role in Operation Southern Watch. Less than six months after ending its first Southwest Asia tour, the 124th began a second Southern Watch deployment, followed by two back-to-back tours in support of Operation Provide Comfort, enforcing the northern no-fly zone and protecting Kurds from Iraqi aggression. From 1993 to 1995 Idaho’s airmen served more than a year in the volatile Persian Gulf — longer than any other flying unit in the Air National Guard. In 1995, the 124th Fighter Group became the 124th Wing, a composite wing with 18 units — two flying squadrons and 15 support units, at Gowen Field ANGB, and an electronic combat training range control squadron assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in southwestern Idaho, United States. The base is in Elmore County, 12 miles southwest of the city of Mountain Home, which is 40 miles southeast of Boise, via Interstate 84.The host unit at Mountain Home since 1972...

, Idaho.

The wing traded its Wild Weasels, the last in the U.S. Air Force, for two new aircraft — the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...

, better known as the “Warthog,” and the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

 transport. The Warthog, famous for its success against Iraqi armor in the Gulf War, provides close air support to troops on the ground. Idaho’s A-10s proved their worth during Operation Allied Force in 1999, where our pilots flew hundreds of combat missions in NATO’s battle for Kosovo. The C-130, workhorse of military air transport worldwide, is used to move people and cargo into and out of rough, undeveloped airfields. Idaho’s Hercs have flown flood relief missions in northern and eastern Idaho, delivered hay to starving cattle and carried several California Condors, an endangered species, to safety at the Birds of Prey center. The new century brought a new focus for the 124th Wing.

As part of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force established by the Air Force, the Idaho Air National Guard took part in AEF 7. Nearly 500 Idaho Air National Guard members went to Kuwait, Oman and other countries throughout the region over a three-month period in the summer of 2000. Changes and challenges of the past half-century have consistently produced positive results, thanks to the dedicated efforts of thousands of men and women who have served Idaho and America since 1946 as members of the Idaho Air National Guard.

In its 2005 BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...

 Recommendations, the Department of Defense recommended to realign the Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....

 by deactivating the 189th Airlift Squadron
189th Airlift Squadron
The 189th Airlift Squadron was a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard equipped with the C-130H Hercules. Its parent unit was the 124th Wing. Following the BRAC 2005 the unit was deactivated in 2009.-External links:...

 and redistributing the four C-130H aircraft of the 124th Wing to the 153rd Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard
Wyoming Air National Guard
The Wyoming Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is, along with the Wyoming Army National Guard, an element of the Wyoming National Guard...

 at Cheyenne ANGB, Wyoming and have the Idaho ANG operate only A-10s and the 124th Wing (124 WG) would once again be redesignated the 124th Fighter Wing (124 FW).

The new larger unit at Cheyenne would create a larger, more effective C-130 squadron size, and with its proximity to F. E. Warren Air Force Base, would allow it to host an Active Air Force and ANG associate unit. Boise/Gowen Field ANGB would become a more valuable A-10 base because of its proximity to air-to-ground ranges with scoreable strafing and bombing, threat emitters, and integrated air combat training.

This BRAC 2005-mandated transition was completed in 2009 and the 124th Wing was redesignated as the 124th Fighter Wing.

Invasion of Iraq friendly fire incident

As part of the invasion of Iraq and supporting the British portion of that operation called Operation Telic
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...

, on March 28, 2003 two 124th Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...

 aircraft from the 190th Fighter Squadron
190th Fighter Squadron
The 190th Fighter Squadron flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 124th Fighter Wing. The squadron was deployed to the Middle-East in 2003 to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq...

 flew a mission to destroy artillery and rocket launchers from Iraq's 6th Armor Division, dug in 25 miles (40.2 km) north of Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...

. During the mission, the two A-10 aircraft mistakenly attacked a patrol of four armored vehicles from D Squadron of the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 Blues and Royals
Blues and Royals
The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...

 of the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...

 that were supporting the 16 Air Assault Brigade in Operation Telic. As a result of the attack by the 190th A-10 aircraft, British Lance-Corporal of Horse
Lance-Corporal of Horse
Lance-corporal of horse is an appointment unique to the Household Cavalry of the British Army, equivalent to lance sergeant in the Foot Guards. It was introduced in 1971...

 Matty Hull was killed and five of his colleagues were injured, four seriously.

Major Command/Gaining Command

  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Air Combat Command
    Air Combat Command
    Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....

     (1992–Present) {for A-10 aircraft and units}
  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Air Mobility Command
    Air Mobility Command
    Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....

     (1992–2009) {for C-130 aircraft and units}
  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Tactical Air Command
    Tactical Air Command
    Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...

     (1975–1992)
  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Air Defense Command/Aerospace Defense Command
    Aerospace Defense Command
    Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...

     (1953–1975)

Previous designations

  • 124th Wing (1995–Present)
  • 124th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
  • 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1975–1992)

Squadrons assigned

  • 189th Airlift Squadron
    189th Airlift Squadron
    The 189th Airlift Squadron was a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard equipped with the C-130H Hercules. Its parent unit was the 124th Wing. Following the BRAC 2005 the unit was deactivated in 2009.-External links:...

     (1992–2009)
  • 190th Fighter Squadron
    190th Fighter Squadron
    The 190th Fighter Squadron flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 124th Fighter Wing. The squadron was deployed to the Middle-East in 2003 to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq...

     (1946–Present)
  • 124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (???-Present)

Aircraft operated

  • C-130 Hercules
    C-130 Hercules
    The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

     (1996–2009)
  • A-10A Thunderbolt IIA (1996–Present)
  • F-4G Phantom II (1991–1996)
  • RF-4C Phantom II (1975–1992)
  • F-102 Delta Dagger
    F-102 Delta Dagger
    The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...

     (1964–1975)
  • F-86L Sabre (???-1964)
  • F-89 Scorpion
    F-89 Scorpion
    The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air...

     (1956-???)
  • F-94 Starfire
    F-94 Starfire
    The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...

     (???-1956)
  • F-86A Sabre (1953-???)
  • P-51D Mustang (1946–1953)


External links

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