120th Fighter Squadron

The 120th Fighter Squadron (120 FS) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing located at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. The 120th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

120th Fighter Squadron
F-16C Fighting Falcon, 120th Fighter Squadron (FS), 140th Wing (WG), Colorado Air National Guard (COANG)
Active28 August 1917 – Present
Country United States
Allegiance Colorado
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeSquadron
RoleAir Defense/Tactical Fighter
Part ofColorado Air National Guard
Garrison/HQBuckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado
Nickname(s)Colorado Cougars
Redeyes (call sign)
Mile High Militia
Motto(s)"FIRST IN THE AIR GUARD"
Mascot(s)Colorado mountain lion
Colorado Cougars
Tail CodeColorado Flag Tail Stripe; "CO"
EngagementsWorld War I
World War II
Vietnam War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Insignia
120th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 14 April 1957)[1]
120th Observation Squadron emblem[2]

The squadron is a descendant organization of the World War I 120th Aero Squadron, established on 28 August 1917. It was reformed on 27 June 1923, as the 120th Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.

The 120th Fighter Squadron was the first federally recognized Air National Guard unit, receiving this distinction on 30 June 1946. Thus, their motto is, "First in the Air Guard."

Overview

The current mission of the 120th is to operate at the highest levels of military and domestic policy protecting the midwest America and Operation Enduring Freedom. Also the 120th Fighter squadron has deployed five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, most recently to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in 2010. The 120th has also supported an Air Expeditionary Forces deployment in the Pacific region and multiple National Special Security Events, such as the Democratic National Convention in 2008, in Denver, Colorado.

History

World War I

The 120th Fighter Squadron dates its origins to the 120th Aero Squadron, organized at Kelly Field, Texas on 6 August 1917. In July 1917, the men of the squadron were first organized at Fort Thomas, Kentucky where the recruits, about 160 of the, were sent to Kelly Field. There the squadron was placed into indoctrination training, learning infantry drill and also attended the airplane instruction school. On 1 November, the squadron was ordered to Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. Upon arrival, the squadron was ordered to begin the work of operating the field for the Air Service. A civilian construction firm, the American Construction Company, Houston, was contracted to put up the Hangars and make the place habitable. The first duty of the squadron was to assemble about 100 airplanes, and put them in a flyable condition for use as training planes.[3]

On 30 January 1918, the squadron was ordered for overseas duty and moved to the Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, Long Island. There the squadron was equipped for overseas duty. On 16 February, the squadron, was ordered to report to the Port of Entry, Hoboken, New Jersey for boarding on the former Cunard Liner RMS Carmania for transport. After an uneventful Atlantic crossing, it arrived at Liverpool, England on 4 March. The next day the squadron was moved to the American Rest Camp Romsey, near Winchester, England. There, the squadron was attached to the Royal Flying Corps for additional training, and on 9 March, it boarded a train, reporting to the RFC No. 1 Observer's School of Aerial Gunnery, RFC New Romney, Kent. There, the squadron trained with the British soldiers at the station, maintained the camp and performed airplane maintenance. This work continued until 9 August when orders were given for the squadron to divide into Flights. "A" and "B" Flights were ordered to RFC Stamford, England, while "C" Flight was ordered to RNAS Crail, Scotland. This meant that the squadron had completed its training in England and was ready for duty at the front. After about a month of final training, the squadron was re-combined at Southampton for transfer to France.[3]

Men of the 120th Aero Squadron, 2d Air Instructional Center (2d AIC), Tours Aerodrome, France, November 1918.

After a cross-channel crossing on the S.S. Archangel, the squadron arrived at Le Havre, France on 3 September, and took a train to the Replacement Concentration Center, AEF, St. Maixent Replacement Barracks, France, arriving on 6 September 1918. After processing, the squadron was ordered to report to the 2d Air Instructional Center (2d AIC), Tours Aerodrome, in central France. This came as a great disappointment to the squadron, as it was prepared to serve on the front, however, as the squadron has almost no experience in the French biplanes used at the front, it was felt it could do better work at the training center. At the 2d AIC, the men of the 120th were assigned to nearly every department at the field, in the machine shops working on aircraft to the transportation department where the men drove trucks and all manner of vehicles. A great many of the men were not fitted for the jobs assigned and required training in order to be of useful service.[3]

The squadron remained at 2d AIC until after the Armistice with Germany in November 1918, then returned to the United States via Bordeaux, France, in April 1918, arriving at Mitchel Field, New York on 6 May 1919. It then was moved to Kelly Field, Texas, where it was demobilized on 17 May 1919 and the men were returned to civilian life.[3]

Interwar period
Members of the 120th Areo Observation Squadron at Lowry Airfield with their mascot, Jeff (equipped with a parachute), circa 1924.

On 27 June 1923 the 120th Aero Observation Squadron, 45th Division, Aviation was mustered into service as part of the Colorado Army National Guard. Initially composed of eight officers and 50 enlisted members, the unit flew Curtiss JN-4Es (better known as Jennies) – an aircraft which proved to be unsuitable for flying at Denver elevations. One year later, the 120th began flying out of Lowry Field. The brand new airfield was named in honor of 2nd Lt. Francis B. Lowry who was shot down and killed near Crepion, France in 1918 while on a photographic mission.

Nonetheless, the men of the 120th persevered flying the Jennies just before sunrise and after sunset, when the air was less turbulent. In later years, they would transition through a variety of more powerful observation aircraft such as the Douglas 0-2, Consolidated 0-17, and Douglas 0-38. The unit eventually started flying the 0-47 – a three-seat, all-metal, single-engine aircraft – that took the unit into World War II.

Mobilization for World War II took place on 6 January 1941, 11 months prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The unit, then 19 officers and 116 enlisted members, moved to Biggs Field, Texas.

During World War II the squadron supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. Patrolled the Mexican border from March–July 1942. Disbanded on 30 November 1943.

Colorado Air National Guard
120th Fighter Squadron P-51 Mustangs, 1946

The wartime 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was reconstituted on 21 June 1945. It was then re-designated as the 120th Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the Colorado Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Buckley Field (A sub-base of Lowry AFB), Colorado and was extended federal recognition on 30 June 1946 by the National Guard Bureau. The 120th Fighter Squadron was bestowed the history, honors, and colors of the previous 120th TRS.

The 146th Fighter Squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to obtain federal recognition. It squadron was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and was allocated to the 140th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Wing, Colorado Air National Guard. As part of the Continental Air Command Fourth Air Force, the unit trained for tactical fighter missions and air-to-air combat.

In 1947, shortly after World War II, the 120th TFS organized an aerial demonstration team called the "Minute Men." This team was federally recognized in 1956, making it the first and only Air National Guard precision aerial demonstration team. Headed by Col. Walt Williams, the team performed in more than 100 air shows for more than three million people in 47 states and five foreign countries before being disbanded in favor of a federal team of Air Force pilots, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The Minute Men flew the F-86F-2 GunVal version of the Sabre Jet.

Korean War activation

As a result of the Korean War, the 120th and its parent, the 140th Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty on 1 April 1951. The unit was ordered to the new Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, which arrived in October 1951. The federalized 140th was a composite organization of activated Air National Guard units, composed of the 120th, the 187th Fighter Squadron (Wyoming ANG) and the 190th Fighter Squadron (Utah ANG). The 140th and its components were equipped with F-51D Mustangs, and were re-designated as Fighter-Bomber squadrons on 12 April 1951.

During their period of federal service, many pilots were sent to Japan and South Korea to reinforce active-duty units. At Clovis, elements of the 140th FBW took part in Operation Tumbler-Snapper – 1952, a nuclear bomb test in Nevada. On 15 November 1952, the elements of the 140th returned to Air National Guard control in their respective states.

Cold War
Minute Men aerobatics team c1958

Upon return to Colorado state control, the 120th was re-equipped by Tactical Air Command with F-80C Shooting Star jets. On 1 July 1955, the squadron was re-designated as the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, with its parent 140th FIW being assigned to the 34th Air Division, Air Defense Command.

In 1958, the 140th FIW implemented the ADC Runway Alert Program, in which interceptors of the 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were committed to a five-minute runway alert. In 1960 the F-86s were again replaced by the F-86L Sabre Interceptor, a day/night/all-weather aircraft designed to be integrated into the ADC SAGE interceptor direction and control system.

Tactical Air Command/Vietnam War
120th FS F-100C 54-1836 at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 1968. Note Vietnam War Tail Code "VS"
"D" Huns on the Buckley's flightline, Apr 1974
120th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 71-341, about 1988

The 140th was transferred back to Tactical Air Command in January 1961, the squadron being re-designated as the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1968, While flying the F-100C Super Sabre in Vietnam, the unit became the first guard unit activated and deployed for one year to southeast Asia. As part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Rang AB, the squadron flew primarily ground support missions, and beat back many enemy attacks on American and South Vietnamese ground units. The 140th also performed interdiction, visual and armed reconnaissance, strike assessment photography, escort, close and direct air support, and rapid reaction alert.

The 120th earned the United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the "V" device for valor during the conflict by flying over 6,000 combat missions. After returning from Vietnam, the Guard was upgraded with the D-model of the F-100 Super Sabre.

The LTV A-7D Corsair II replaced the F-100 in April 1974 and the aircraft was flown to victory as the "World Champions" in the inaugural "Gunsmoke" competition held at Nellis Air Force Base in 1981.

The 120th converted to the Lockheed-Martin F-16C Falcon in 1992 and won the Air Force Association award for the Outstanding Air National Guard Unit in 2001.

Modern era

The A-7Ds were operated until March 1992 when the Wing converted to Block 30 F-16C/Ds Fighting Falcons, and the Corsairs were retired to Davis-Monthan AFB.

Today the 120th FS is a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including Offensive Counter-Air (OCA), Defensive Counter-Air (DCA), OCA Interdiction, Close Air Support (CAS), and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions. With the addition of the LITENING II and SNIPER targeting pod and the latest software upgrades, the 120th pilots are able to employ precision guided GPS and Laser-guided weapons with deadly accuracy.

The 120th Fighter Squadron has participated in many exercises when not deployed to support real world contingency operations as part of the United States Air Force's Total Force. These exercises include joint multi-national training with the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, TEAM SPIRIT in Korea, Tactical Fighter Weaponry in Denmark, Maple Flag in Canada, Cope Thunder in Alaska, Sentry Aloha in Hawaii, The Joint CRUZEX V Operation(Cruzeiro do sul – Southern Cross ) in Brazil in 2010, with the Brazilian Air Force, the Armée de l'Air (France Air force), and many others air forces from South America, and observers of some many other countries of the NATO (this is the most big aerial operation in the South America), and countless other exercises within the United States.

In February 2003, the 120th FS mobilized and deployed to a still classified location just outside of Iraq's borders, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed with sixteen aircraft and over 30 pilots, the 120th flew over 500 combat sorties, 2500 hours and dropped over 350 precision guided weapons while successfully preventing the launch of any Theatre Ballistic Missiles in their area of responsibility.

All personnel and jets returned safely during the summer, 2003. The unit has since redeployed to Iraq in the summer of 2004, as well as during the holidays in 2007–2008, and in the Summer of 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2005, the 120th won back the "Spirit Trophy" in the Tiger Meet of the Americas Competition.[4] The 120th is an honorary member of the NATO Tiger Association.[5]

Lineage
120th FIS Minute Men aerial demonstration team emblem
  • Organized as 120th Aero Squadron on 28 August 1917
Re-designated 120th Aero Squadron (Service) on 1 September 1917
Demobilized on 17 May 1919
  • Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 120th Observation Squadron which, having been allotted to Colorado NG, was activated on 27 June 1923
Ordered to active service on 6 January 1941
Re-designated: 120th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942
Re-designated: 120th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
Re-designated: 120th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943
Re-designated: 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943
Disbanded on 30 November 1943.
  • Reconstituted on 21 June 1945
Re-designated 120th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Colorado ANG, on 24 May 1946
Extended federal recognition on 30 June 1946
Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 April 1951
Re-designated: 120th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 12 April 1951
Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control, 15 November 1952
Re-designated: 120th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 July 1960
Re-designated: 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 January 1961
Federalized and placed on active duty, 26 January 1968
Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control, 30 April 1969
Re-designated: 120th Fighter Squadron on 15 March 1992
Designated: 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron* when deployed as part of Air and Space Expeditionary units.

*Note: The 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is a "dummy" designation used to refer to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command F-16 units deployed to Balad AB, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2011). While the 332d designation was widely used, it is not the proper designation of the units while deployed to Balad. The 332d designation was used since most Guard/Reserve units swapped out on a more frequent basis compared to their active duty counterparts.

Assignments
  • Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 28 August-10 November 1917
  • Post Headquarters, Ellington Field, 10 November 1917 – 3 February 1918
  • Aviation Concentration Center, 3–16 February 1918
  • Chief of Air Service, American Expeditionary Force, 9 March-16 September 1918
Attached to Royal Flying Corps for training
  • Replacement Concentration Center, American Expeditionary Force, 6–17 September 1918
  • Second Aviation Instruction Center, American Expeditionary Force, 17 September 1918 – 6 February 1919
  • Post Headquarters, Mitchel Field, 7–17 May 1919
  • Colorado National Guard (divisional aviation, 45th Division), 27 June 1923
  • Third Army, 6 January 1941
  • III Air Support Command, 1 September 1941
  • 77th Observation (later Reconnaissance, Tactical Reconnaissance) Group, 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943
  • 140th Fighter Group (later 140th Fighter-Bomber Group, 140th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 140th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 140th Tactical Fighter Group), 1 October 1946
  • 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 26 January 1968
  • 140th Tactical Fighter Group, 30 April 1969
  • 140th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 June 1974
  • 140th Operations Group, 15 March 1992 – Present

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References
Notes
  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 347–348
  2. Hubbard, p. 720
  3. Gorrell
  4. "Tiger Meet results and photo". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. [120th Fighter Squadron, Buckley AFB http://www.natotigers.org/tiger-units/120th-figter-squadron]

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  • Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919. Series E. Vol. 17 History of the 104th–147th Aero Squadrons. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705.
  • Hubbard, Gerard (June 1943). "Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth". Vol. LXXXIII (No. 6) National Geographic, pp. 710–722
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
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