119th Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 119th Wing is an Air National Guard
unit located at Hector International Airport
, North Dakota
flying the MQ-1 Predator and the C-21A Learjet.
in 1947. On April 1, 1951, the Hooligans were mobilized for federal service and ordered to active duty during the Korean War
.
Happy Hooligan pilots flew the F-51D until 1954, the F-94A/C from 1954–60, the F-89D/J from 1960–66, the F-102A from 1966–69 and the F-101B from 1969-77.
In 1977, the Hooligans began flying the F-4D Phantom, accumulating more than 51,000 hours from 1977 to 1990 without a Class A mishap. Since converting to the F-16A in April 1990, the Hooligans have flown an additional 30,000 accident-free flight hours.
Air Defense alert has been a major part of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s tasking since September 1953. The unit provided alert coverage at Fargo, with either two or four aircraft continuously on status, until March 1990 when home station alert was discontinued. A permanent alert detachment at Kingsley Field, Oregon, was assigned to the 119th beginning October 1, 1989. The detachment, staffed by 18 members, was relocated to March Air Force Base, California, in July 1994.
The first overseas deployment of the North Dakota Air Guard occurred in 1983, with six F-4s and 120 support personnel deploying to Keflavik, Iceland. Eight Russian TU-95 Bear bombers were intercepted by Hooligan pilots during the deployment. In 1986, the 119th Fighter Group became the first core unit to assume the USAF Zulu alert mission at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Referred to as "Creek Klaxon", the 119th and other Air Defense units stood continuous alert for one year, providing air sovereignty in Europe for NATO. During Desert Storm, 107 Happy Hooligans were mobilized and deployed in support of operations at numerous CONUS locations. The C-130 support aircraft assigned to the North Dakota Air National Guard and aircrew also provided stateside airlift of crucial, war-related personnel and equipment to support Desert Storm.
The unit has amassed a nearly insurmountable record. Most recently...the Hooligans earned first place at the October 1994 William Tell competition, a worldwide weapons meet which tests pilots and ground crews from the U.S. Air Force's top units in realistic, air-to-air combat situations. This was the Hooligans third William Tell victory, winning in 1970, 1972, and 1994, in addition to placing first among F-4 William Tell units in 1986.
In 1994 the NDANG won the prestigious Hughes Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding air-to-air unit in the U.S. Air Force. The only Air National Guard unit to win the award twice, the Hooligans are also the only F-16 unit to ever win the Hughes Trophy.
The 119th WG has earned fourteen Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. This includes four consecutive periods covering April 1990 through July 1995.
The announcement was made in March 1999 that the 119th Fighter Wing would convert from an air defense mission to a general purpose mission with 15 F-16A/B aircraft while activating an alert detachment at Langley AFB, VA.
In its 2005 BRAC
Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Hector International Airport Air Guard Station, ND. The 119th Fighter Wing’s F-16s (15 aircraft) would retire. The wing’s expeditionary combat support elements would remain in place. Hector IAP, at 125th, ranked low in military value. The reduction in F-16 force structure and the need to align common versions of the F-16 at the same bases argued for realigning Hector IAP to allow its aircraft to retire without a flying mission backfill.
As of 2006 the NDANG has been flying the C-21 executive transport. They are also running a Predator flight ops squadron in Fargo and are flying missions every day in Iraq.
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 119th Wing 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 located at Hector International Airport
Hector International Airport
Hector International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Fargo, a city in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. It is owned by the City of Fargo Municipal Airport Authority.The airport was named after Martin...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
flying the MQ-1 Predator and the C-21A Learjet.
History
The 119th Wing, also known as the "Happy Hooligans," began operations with the F-51DP-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. On April 1, 1951, the Hooligans were mobilized for federal service and ordered to active duty during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Happy Hooligan pilots flew the F-51D until 1954, the F-94A/C from 1954–60, the F-89D/J from 1960–66, the F-102A from 1966–69 and the F-101B from 1969-77.
In 1977, the Hooligans began flying the F-4D Phantom, accumulating more than 51,000 hours from 1977 to 1990 without a Class A mishap. Since converting to the F-16A in April 1990, the Hooligans have flown an additional 30,000 accident-free flight hours.
Air Defense alert has been a major part of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s tasking since September 1953. The unit provided alert coverage at Fargo, with either two or four aircraft continuously on status, until March 1990 when home station alert was discontinued. A permanent alert detachment at Kingsley Field, Oregon, was assigned to the 119th beginning October 1, 1989. The detachment, staffed by 18 members, was relocated to March Air Force Base, California, in July 1994.
The first overseas deployment of the North Dakota Air Guard occurred in 1983, with six F-4s and 120 support personnel deploying to Keflavik, Iceland. Eight Russian TU-95 Bear bombers were intercepted by Hooligan pilots during the deployment. In 1986, the 119th Fighter Group became the first core unit to assume the USAF Zulu alert mission at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Referred to as "Creek Klaxon", the 119th and other Air Defense units stood continuous alert for one year, providing air sovereignty in Europe for NATO. During Desert Storm, 107 Happy Hooligans were mobilized and deployed in support of operations at numerous CONUS locations. The C-130 support aircraft assigned to the North Dakota Air National Guard and aircrew also provided stateside airlift of crucial, war-related personnel and equipment to support Desert Storm.
The unit has amassed a nearly insurmountable record. Most recently...the Hooligans earned first place at the October 1994 William Tell competition, a worldwide weapons meet which tests pilots and ground crews from the U.S. Air Force's top units in realistic, air-to-air combat situations. This was the Hooligans third William Tell victory, winning in 1970, 1972, and 1994, in addition to placing first among F-4 William Tell units in 1986.
In 1994 the NDANG won the prestigious Hughes Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding air-to-air unit in the U.S. Air Force. The only Air National Guard unit to win the award twice, the Hooligans are also the only F-16 unit to ever win the Hughes Trophy.
The 119th WG has earned fourteen Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. This includes four consecutive periods covering April 1990 through July 1995.
The announcement was made in March 1999 that the 119th Fighter Wing would convert from an air defense mission to a general purpose mission with 15 F-16A/B aircraft while activating an alert detachment at Langley AFB, VA.
In its 2005 BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Hector International Airport Air Guard Station, ND. The 119th Fighter Wing’s F-16s (15 aircraft) would retire. The wing’s expeditionary combat support elements would remain in place. Hector IAP, at 125th, ranked low in military value. The reduction in F-16 force structure and the need to align common versions of the F-16 at the same bases argued for realigning Hector IAP to allow its aircraft to retire without a flying mission backfill.
As of 2006 the NDANG has been flying the C-21 executive transport. They are also running a Predator flight ops squadron in Fargo and are flying missions every day in Iraq.
Major Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe 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 CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe 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 CommandTactical Air CommandTactical 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...
(1980–1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe 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 (???-1980)
Squadrons assigned
- Operations Group
- 177th Airlift Squadron (2007–present)
- 178th Reconnaissance Squadron (2007–present)
- 178th Fighter Squadron (1947–2006)
- Mission Support Group
- Medical Group
- Maintenance Group
- Wing Staff
- 219th Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB
Aircraft Operated
- C-27J Spartan (2012)
- MQ-1A Predator (2007–present)
- C-21 Learjet (2006–present)
- C-26 MetrolinerC-26 Metroliner|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Donald, David, general editor. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, ON: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X....
(1992-199?) - F-16A/B Fighting Falcon (1990–2007)
- C-130B Hercules (1987–1992)
- F-4D Phantom II (1977–1990)
- C-131 SamaritanC-131 SamaritanThe Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...
(1975–1987) - VT-29 Samaritan (1972–1975)
- F-101B Voodoo (1969–1977)
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
(1967–1972) - F-102A Delta Dagger (1966–1969)
- F-89J Scorpion (1959–1966)
- F-89D Scorpion (1958–1959)
- C-45 Expeditor (1955–1959)
- T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
(1954–1987) - F-94A/B/C Starfire (1954–1958)
- L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1948-??) - C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
(1948–1968) - B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
(1948-??) - AT-6 Texan (1947-??)
- P-51D Mustang (1947–1954)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 2007
- 2006
- 2003 (For Air Defense activities on 9/11/2001)
- 1999
- 1998
- 1995
- 1994
- 1993
- 1992
- 1979
- 1974
- 1973