The 140th Operations Group is a unit of the
Colorado Air National Guard
The Colorado Air National Guard (CO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Colorado, United States of America. It is, along with the Colorado Army National Guard, an element of the Colorado National Guard. The units of the Colorado Air Nation ...
, stationed at
Buckley Space Force Base
Buckley Space Force Base is a United States Space Force base in Aurora, Colorado named after United States Army Air Service First Lieutenant John Harold Buckley. The base is run by Space Base Delta 2, with major units including the U.S. Space For ...
, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the group is gained by
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
.
The group's
120th Fighter Squadron
The 120th Fighter Squadron (120 FS) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing located at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. The 120th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.
The squadron is a descendant organization ...
was first organized as the
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
120th Aero Squadron on 28 August 1917. It was reformed on 27 June 1923 as the 120th Observation Squadron, one of the
29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the
United States Army National Guard
The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army Na ...
formed before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
The
group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...
was activated as the 370th Fighter Group and served in the
European Theater of World War II
The European theatre of World War II was one of the two main theatres of combat during World War II. It saw heavy fighting across Europe for almost six years, starting with Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and ending with the ...
where it earned two
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
s and was awarded the
Belgian Fourragere
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
after being cited twice in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.
In 1946 the group, now redesignated the 140th Fighter Group, was one of the original twenty-seven regular
Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
groups allotted to the National Guard. Since 1950 the group has controlled the operational squadrons of the
140th Wing
The 140th Wing (140 WG) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard, stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.
The 140th Win ...
, except for the period 1974–1993, when the group was inactive.
Overview
The 140th flies
F-16C/D/ Fighting Falcons (Air Combat Command)
fighter and
C-21 Learjet
The Learjet Model 35 and Model 36 are a series of American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft manufactured by Learjet. When used by the United States Air Force they carry the designation C-21A.
The aircraft are powered by ...
(
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri.
Air Mobility Command was established on 1 June 1992, and was formed from elements ...
)
airlift
An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft.
Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distanc ...
missions. It also controls the
137th Space Warning Squadron 137th may refer to:
* 137th (Calgary) Battalion, CEF, unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War
* 137th Air Reconnaissance Regiment, air reconnaissance and guidance regiment, part of the SFR Yugoslav Air Force
* 137th Spec ...
(
Air Force Space Command
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
).
Units
The 140th Operations Group
: 120th Fighter Squadron: Operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a dual-purpose fighter squadron with pilots qualified to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, including offensive counter-air, defensive counter-air,
air interdiction
Air interdiction (AI), also known as deep air support (DAS), is the use of preventive tactical bombing and strafing by combat aircraft against enemy targets that are not an immediate threat, to delay, disrupt or hinder later enemy engagement of fr ...
,
close air support
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...
, and
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
missions.
:
200th Airlift Squadron: Operates the C-21A Learjet. It provides secure priority airlift for the highest level of military and civilian leaders throughout the world.
* 140th Operations Support Squadron
History
World War II
The unit was constituted as the 370th Fighter Group in May 1943, and activated on 1 July 1943 at
Westover Field Westover may refer to:
People
* Al Westover (born 1954), American professional basketball player in Australia
* Arthur Westover (1864–1935), Canadian sport shooter and 1908 Olympian
* Charles Westover (1934–1990), better known as Del Shannon, ...
, Massachusetts.
The original squadrons of the group were the
401st,
402d[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 492] and
485th Fighter Squadron
The 485th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, stationed at Camp Shanks, New York. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945.
History
Established in mi ...
s.
[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 583-584]
The group trained with
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bombe ...
s
[ at several ]First Air Force
The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Co ...
bases in New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
then was deployed to RAF Aldermaston
Royal Air Force Aldermaston or more simply RAF Aldermaston is a former Royal Air Force station located east of Newbury, Berkshire and southwest of Reading, Berkshire, England.
Originally built as an RAF Bomber Command airfield during 1941-1 ...
England during January and February 1944. In Europe, it became an element of Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
.
When the group arrived, the expected to receive Thunderbolts on which they had trained stateside. However, much to the amazement of the Group Commander, Colonel Howard F. Nichols, the 370th FG was informed by IX Fighter Command
The IX Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany, wheret was inactivated on 16 November 1945.
IX Fighter Command was the primary tactical fighter ...
that it would be equipped with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twi ...
, a few of which had already arrived during the 18 days the group was in residence at Aldermaston. The latter base proved to be only a temporary station, as it was required for troop carrier operations; the 370th soon moved to RAF Andover
RAF Andover is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station in England, west of Andover, Hampshire. As well as RFC and RAF units, units of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force, United States Army Air ...
.[
From England, the group dive-bombed ]radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
installations and flak
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
towers, and escorted bomber
A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped ...
s that attacked bridges and marshalling yard
A classification yard (American and Canadian English (Canadian National Railway use)), marshalling yard (British, Hong Kong, Indian, Australian, and Canadian English (Canadian Pacific Railway use)) or shunting yard (Central Europe) is a railway ya ...
s in France as the Allies prepared for Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...
, the invasion of the continent of Europe. The group provided cover for Allied forces that crossed the Channel on D-Day
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D ...
, and flew armed reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
missions over the Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula (, ; nrf, Cotentîn ), also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. It extends north-westward into the English Channel, towards Great Britain. To its w ...
until the end of the month.[ On 17 July 1944, napalm incendiary bombs were dropped for the first time in war by 14 P-38 aircraft of the 402nd Fighter Squadron, led by 370th Group commander Col Nichols, on a fuel depot at ]Coutances
Coutances () is a Communes of France, commune in the Manche Departments of France, department in Normandy (administrative region), Normandy in north-western France.
History
Capital of the Unelli, a Gauls, Gaulish tribe, the town was given the n ...
, near St. Lô
ST, St, or St. may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Stanza, in poetry
* Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band
* Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise
* Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...
, France.
The group transferred to IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
and moved the Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) were temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II during the liberation of Europe. They were built in the UK prior to the invasion and thereafter in northwest Europe from 6 June 19 ...
at Cardonville
Cardonville () is a commune in the Calvados department and Normandy region of north-western France.
History World War II
After the liberation of the area by Allied Forces in early June 1944, engineers of the Ninth Air Force IX Engineering Comman ...
, France on 24 July to support the Allied ground advance across France and into Germany.[ The 370th's fighter-bombers hit hard. German Field Marshal von Kluge soon found that his armored forces moving towards Normandy were constantly beset by Allied fighter-bomber attacks. Von Kluge phoned General ]Walter Warlimont
Walter Warlimont (3 October 1894 – 9 October 1976) was a German staff officer during World War II. He served as deputy chief of the Operations Staff, one of departments in the ''Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'' (OKW), the Armed Forces High Comman ...
, Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then ...
's personal representative on the Western front, "The enemy air superiority is terrific and smothers almost every one of our movements...Every movement of the enemy is prepared and protected by its air force. Losses in men and equipment are extraordinary." Von Kluge himself was not immune to personal danger. USAAF Group Commander Nichols and a squadron of his P-38 Lightnings blasted von Kluge's own headquarters; the group commander himself skipped a 500-pound bomb right through the front door. Moving across France, the 370th FG hit gun emplacements, troops, supply dumps, and tanks near Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô (, ; br, Sant Lo) is a commune in northwest France, the capital of the Manche department in the region of Normandy.[Falaise
Falaise may refer to:
Places
* Falaise, Ardennes, France
* Falaise, Calvados, France
** The Falaise pocket was the site of a battle in the Second World War
* La Falaise, in the Yvelines ''département'', France
* The Falaise escarpment in Quebe ...]
–Argentan
Argentan () is a commune and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in northwestern France.
Argentan is located NE of Rennes, ENE of the Mont Saint-Michel, SE of Cherbourg, SSE of Caen, SW of Rouen and N ...
area in August 1944.
In September 1944, the group sent planes and pilots to England to provide cover for Operation Market-Garden
Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation during the Second World War fought in the Netherlands from 17 to 27 September 1944. Its objective was to create a salient into German territory with a bridgehead over the River Rhine, c ...
, the allied airborne
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
assault on the Netherlands and Germany. The P-38s of the group struck pillboxes and troops early in October to aid First Army's capture of Aachen
Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...
, and afterward struck railroads, bridges, viaducts, and tunnels in that area.
The 370th received a Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
for a mission in support of ground forces in the Hurtgen Forest area on 2 December 1944 when, despite bad weather and barrages of antiaircraft and small-arms fire, the group dropped napalm bombs on a heavily defended position in Bergstein, setting fire to the village and inflicting heavy casualties on enemy troops defending the area. The 370th later flew armed reconnaissance during the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive (military), offensive military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted fr ...
, attacking warehouses, highways, railroads, motor transports, and other targets.[
The group converted to ]North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter aircraft, fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team ...
s during February – March 1945. It bombed bridges and docks in the vicinity of Wesel
Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.
Geography
Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine.
Division of the city
Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...
to prepare for the crossing of the Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
, and patrolled the area as paratroops were dropped on the east bank on 24 March Supported operations of 2d Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley
The Ruhr ( ; german: Ruhrgebiet , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr area, sometimes Ruhr district, Ruhr region, or Ruhr valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km ...
in April. The group flew its last mission, a sweep over Dessau
Dessau is a town and former municipality in Germany at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the '' Bundesland'' (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it has been part of the newly created municipality of Dessau-Roßlau ...
and Wittenberg
Wittenberg ( , ; Low Saxon language, Low Saxon: ''Wittenbarg''; meaning ''White Mountain''; officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg (''Luther City Wittenberg'')), is the fourth largest town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Wittenberg is situated on the Ri ...
, on 4 May 1945.[
The 370th FG returned to the United States during September–November 1945, and was inactivated on 7 November 1945.][
]
Colorado Air National Guard
The 370th Fighter Group was redesignated the 140th Fighter Group, and was allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was organized at Buckley Field
Buckley Space Force Base is a United States Space Force base in Aurora, Colorado named after United States Army Air Service First Lieutenant John Harold Buckley. The base is run by Space Base Delta 2, with major units including the U.S. Space For ...
, Colorado, and was extended federal recognition on 1 October 1946.[ The unit was the first Air National Guard group receiving federal recognition. The 140th Fighter Group assigned to the ]86th Fighter Wing
Area codes 084 and 086 are Nigerian telephone area codes serving the cities of Port Harcourt and Ahoada in Rivers State. They fall under the Southeast Zone in the National Numbering Plan (NNP) restructured in 2003.
When in Port Harcourt or Ahoa ...
.
The 140th Fighter Group consisted of the 120th Fighter Squadron
The 120th Fighter Squadron (120 FS) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard 140th Wing located at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. The 120th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.
The squadron is a descendant organization ...
at Buckley, the 187th Fighter Squadron
The 187th Airlift Squadron (187 AS) is a unit of the Wyoming Air National Guard 153d Airlift Wing. located at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming. The 187th is equipped with the C-130 Hercules.
History World War II
: ''see: 402d Fighter ...
at Cheyenne Municipal Airport, Wyoming and the 191st Fighter Squadron at Salt Lake City Municipal Airport. Utah. Because it was organized earlier than other National Guard groups, it also temporarily controlled the 127th Fighter Squadron
The 127th Command and Control Squadron (127 CACS) was a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Intelligence Wing stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. The 127th was a non-flying squadron operating the Distributed Common Gr ...
at Wichita Municipal Airport
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is a commercial airport west of downtown Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Kansas. Located south of US-54 in southwest Wichita, it covers 3,24 ...
, Kansas and the 173d Fighter Squadron
The 173d Air Refueling Squadron (173d ARS) is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard 155th Air Refueling Wing. It is assigned to Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska and is equipped with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
History World War ...
at Lincoln Municipal Airport. Nebraska until the 132d and 137th Fighter Group 137th may refer to:
*137th (Calgary) Battalion, CEF, unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War
*137th Air Reconnaissance Regiment, air reconnaissance and guidance regiment, part of the SFR Yugoslav Air Force
*137th Special ...
s were organized in 1948. As part of the Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948–1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
During the Korean War, ConAC provided the necessary au ...
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force (4 AF) is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California.
4 AF directs the activities and supervises the training of more than 30,000 Air Force Reser ...
, the unit trained for fighter-bomber
A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...
missions and air-to-air combat. On 31 October 1950 the Air National Guard converted to the wing base organization and 86th Fighter Wing was inactivated, and 140th was assigned to the new 140th Fighter Wing
Fourteen or 14 may refer to:
* 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15
* one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014
Music
* 14th (band), a British electronic music duo
* ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013
*''14'', an unrele ...
, which assumed the personnel and mission of the 86th.
Korean War activation
As a result of the Korean War, the 140th Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty on 1 April 1951, including the 140th Fighter Group and subordinate units. The unit was ordered to the new Clovis Air Force Base
Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base, located approximately southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The host unit at Cannon is the 27th Special Operation ...
, New Mexico, arriving in October 1951. The federalized 140th was a composite organization of activated Air National Guard units, composed of the 120th, 187th and 190th Fighter Squadrons. The 140th and its components were equipped with F-51D Mustangs, and were redesignated as Fighter-Bomber squadrons[ on 12 April 1951. The 140th returned to Air National Guard control in their respective states at the start of 1953.][
]
Cold War
Upon return to Colorado state control, the 140th was re-equipped with Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
jets. In 1955 the group's gaining command changed to Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...
and it became the 140th Fighter-Interceptor Group, then the 140th Fighter Group (Air Defense). It converted to North American F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing So ...
s in 1958 and to F-86Ls armed with Mighty Mouse rockets and equipped with airborne intercept radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
and data link
A data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving digital information (data communication). It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a recei ...
for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) was a system of mainframe computer, large computers and associated computer network, networking equipment that coordinated data from many radar sites and processed it to produce a single unified image ...
system in 1960. The 140th was returned to Tactical Air Command in January 1961 and re-equipped with the North American F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of ...
supersonic tactical fighter.
On 26 January 1968, the group was federalized and its 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reassigned to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam. 120th was released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control on 30 April 1969.
In 1974, the National Guard converted its operational wings to the dual deputy model. As a result, the group was inactivated and its squadrons reassigned directly to the wing.
Modern era
Another reorganization of the National Guard, this time to the "Objective Wing" led to the group's reactivation in 1993 as the 140th Operations Group, equipped with General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
s. Since reactivation, the 140th has supported numerous deployments. Following the attacks on the United States on September, 11th 2001, the group's 120th Fighter Squadron assumed tasking to provide homeland defense as an integral part of Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks..
...
.
Lineage
* Constituted as the 370th Fighter Group on 25 May 1943
: Activated on 1 July 1943
: Inactivated on 7 November 1945
* Redesignated 140th Fighter Group. Allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946
: Organized on 3 September 1946
: Extended federal recognition on 1 October 1946
: Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 April 1951
: Redesignated 140th Fighter-Bomber Group on 12 April 1951
: Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control on 1 January 1953
: Redesignated 140th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 July 1955
: Redesignated 140th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 1 July 1957
: Redesignated: 140th Tactical Fighter Group on 1 January 1961
: Federalized and placed on active duty, 25 January 1968
: Released from active duty and returned to Colorado state control, 30 April 1969
: Inactivated 30 June 1974
* Redesignated: 140th Operations Group
: Activated c. 1 January 1993
Assignments
* I Fighter Command
I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II. It was initially established in June 1941 as the 1st Inte ...
, 1 July 1943 (attached to New York Fighter Wing
The New York Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the I Fighter Command, stationed at Mitchel Field, New York It was inactivated on 10 April 1944.
The wing was a World War II air defense organiza ...
19 October 1943 – 20 January 1944)
* IX Fighter Command, 12 February 1944
* 71st Fighter Wing
The 71st Fighter Wing (71 FW) is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri. It was withdrawn from the Missouri Air National Guard (MO ANG) and inactivated on 31 October 1950.
This win ...
(attached to IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
after 1 August 1944)
* 70th Fighter Wing
The 70th Fighter Wing (70th FW) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Neubiberg Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1947.
History
Established ...
, 1 October 1944 (remained attached to IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
)
* XXIX Tactical Air Command
The XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) was a provisional United States Army Air Forces unit, primarily formed from units of IX Fighter Command. Its last assignment was with Ninth Air Force at Weimar, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 O ...
, 1 February 1945 – September 1945
* Army Service Forces, Port of Embarkation (for inactivation), 6 November 1945 – 7 November 1945
* 86th Fighter Wing, 3 September 1946
* 140th Fighter Wing (later 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 140th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 140th Air Defense Wing, 140th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 November 1950 – 15 December 1952
* 140th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 140th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 140th Air Defense Wing, 140th Tactical Fighter Wing), 15 December 1952 – 30 June 1975
* 140th Fighter Wing (later 140th Wing), c. 1 January 1993
Components
* 120th Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber, Fighter-Interceptor, Tactical Fighter, Fighter) Squadron, 3 September 1946 – 16 January 1968; 30 April 1969 – 30 September 1974; c. 1 January 1993 – Present
* 127th Fighter Squadron, 3 September 1946 – 1948 (Kansas ANG)
* 140th Operations Squadron (later 140th Operations Support Flight, 140th Operations Support Squadron), by April 1961 – c. 20 August 1962, c. 1 January 1993 – present
* 180th Bombardment Squadron, 1 January 1953 – c. March 1953 (Missouri ANG)
* 186th Fighter Squadron 186th may refer to:
* 186th (2/2nd West Riding) Brigade, formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army
* 186th (Kent) Battalion, CEF, unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War
* 186th Aero Squadron, an Air Service ...
, 1 October 1950 – 1 April 1951 (Montana ANG)
* 188th Fighter Squadron (later 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron), 1 November 1950 – 1 February 1951; 11 September 1952 – 1 January 1952: 1 January 1953 – 1 July 1957 (New Mexico ANG)
* 190th Fighter Squadron (later 191st Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 1 November 1950 – 1 January 1953; 1 January 1953 – 1 July 1955 (Idaho ANG)
* 200th Airlift Squadron, 1 July 1996 – Present
* 401st Fighter Squadron (later 173d Fighter Squadron), 1 July 1943 – 7 November 1945,[ 3 September 1946 – 1948 (Nebraska ANG)
* 402d Fighter Squadron (later ]187th Fighter Squadron
The 187th Airlift Squadron (187 AS) is a unit of the Wyoming Air National Guard 153d Airlift Wing. located at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming. The 187th is equipped with the C-130 Hercules.
History World War II
: ''see: 402d Fighter ...
, 187th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 187th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron), 1 July 1943 – 7 November 1945,[ 3 September 1946 – 1 January 1953; 1 January 1953 – 30 June 1957 (Wyoming ANG)
* 485th Fighter Squadron (7F), 1 July 1943 – 7 November 1945][
]
Stations
* Westover Field, Massachusetts, 1 July 1943
* Groton Army Air Field Groton may refer to:
Places
England
*Groton, Suffolk
**Groton Wood
United States
*Groton, Connecticut, a town
**Groton (city), Connecticut, within the town
*Groton, Massachusetts, a town
**Groton (CDP), Massachusetts, the main village in the tow ...
, Connecticut, 19 October 1943
* Bradley Field, Connecticut, 5 January 1944 – 20 January 1944
* RAF Aldermaston (Station 467),[Station number in ] England, 12 February 1944
* RAF Andover (Station 406),[ England, 29 February – 19 July 1944
* Cardonville Airfield (A-3),] France, 24 July 1944
* La Vieille Airfield
La Vieille Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located in the commune of Saint Georges d'Elle in the Normandy region of northern France.
Located at the " Hameau Lavieille " - Saint Georges d'Elle ( to the northeast ...
(A-19),[ France, 15 August 1944
* ]Lonray Airfield
Lonray Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the commune of Lonrai in the Orne region of northern France.
Located just outside Lonrai, the United States Army Air Force established a temporary airfield on ...
(A-45),[ France, 6 September 1944
* ]Roye-Amy Airfield
Roye-Amy Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield which is located approximately 5 km south-southeast of Roye, approximately 98 km north-northeast of Paris.
Originally a 1930s airport which was seized by the Germans duri ...
(A-73),[ France, 11 September 1944
* ]Florennes/Juzaine Airfield
Florennes Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield located east southeast of Florennes, a Walloon municipality of Belgium. It is home to the 2nd Tactical Wing, operating F-16 Fighting Falcons. It also used to be the home to the Ta ...
(A-78),[ Belgium 26 September 1944
* ]Ophoven Airfield
Ophoven Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield which is located west of Opglabbeek (Limburg); approximately northeast of Brussels.
History
The airfield was built by the United States Army Air Forces IX Engineer Command, 820th En ...
(Y-32),[ Belgium 27 January 1945
* ]Gütersloh Airfield
Gütersloh () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a Gütersloh (district), district of the same name and has a pop ...
(Y-99),[ Germany 20 April 1945
* ]AAF Station Mannheim/Sandhofen
Coleman Barracks/Coleman Army Airfield ( ICAO: ETOR) is a United States Army military installation located in the Sandhofen district of Mannheim, Germany. It is assigned to U.S. Army, Europe (USAREUR) and administered by the U.S. Army Installati ...
,[ Germany. 27 June 1945
* ]AAF Station Fritzlar
Fritzlar Air Base (German: ''Heeresflugplatz Fritzlar'', IATA: FRZ, ICAO: ETHF) is a military air field of the German Army Aviation Corps. It is located near the town of Fritzlar in northern Hesse, Germany. The airfield is part of the Georg-Fr ...
,[ Germany, 6 August 1945 – September 1945
* ]Camp Myles Standish
Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts during World War II. It was the main staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation, with about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers passing through the camp on their way ...
, Massachusetts, c. 6–7 November 1945
* Buckley Field
Buckley Space Force Base is a United States Space Force base in Aurora, Colorado named after United States Army Air Service First Lieutenant John Harold Buckley. The base is run by Space Base Delta 2, with major units including the U.S. Space For ...
, Colorado 3 September 1946
* Clovis AFB (later Cannon AFB), New Mexico, 12 April 1951 – 1 January 1953
* Buckley Field (later Buckley Air National Guard Base), Colorado, 1 January 1953 – 30 June 1974
* Buckley Air National Guard Base (later Buckley Air Force Base, then Buckley Space Force Base), Colorado, 1 Jan 1993 – present
Aircraft
* Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
* Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1944–1945
* North American P-51 (later F-51) Mustang, 1945: 1946–1953
* Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
, 1953–1958
* F-86E Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Sov ...
, 1958–1960
* F-86L Sabre Interceptor
The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog",) was an American transonic jet fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor ...
, 1960–1961
* F-100C Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of ...
, 1961–1971
* F-100D Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of US ...
, 1971–1974
* F-100F Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet engine, jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century S ...
, 1961–1974
* A-7D/K Corsair II
The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV).
The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was ...
, 1974–1992
* F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
A large number of variants of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon have been produced by General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and various licensed manufacturers. The details of the F-16 variants, along with major modification programs and der ...
, 1993 – present
Awards and Campaigns
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
USAF 140th Wing, CoANG
( 2009-07-25) Official Site
*
*
*
* Jones, Jay. ''The 370th Fighter Group in World War II: in Action over Europe with the P-38 and P-51''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2007. .
*
*
*
*
AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits
Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
External links
www.GoANG.com: 140th Wing
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Groups of the United States Air National Guard
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Military units and formations established in 1943