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 147th Reconnaissance Wing is a Texas Air National Guard

Texas Air National Guard

The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...

 reconnaissance unit located at Ellington Field

Ellington Field

Ellington International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in the U.S. state of Texas within the city of Houston— southeast of Downtown. Established by the Army Air Service on 21 May 1917, Ellington Field was one of the initial World War I Army Air Service installations when...

, Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

.

History

The 147th Fighter Interceptor Group was activated in May 1958 by the Texas Air National Guard

Texas Air National Guard

The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...

. The 147 FIG's mission was to provide air defense for the Continental United States (CONUS) in times of conflict, and support the Texas governor in an "as-needed" role. On 15 March 1992, the 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...

 redesignated its squadrons, groups and wings, dropping the "Interceptor" from the units' designations.

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)
• 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...
  
   (1980–1992)
• 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...
  
  /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...
  
   (1958–1980)

Previous designations

• 147th Reconnaissance Wing (2008–Present)
• 147th Fighter Wing (1995–2008)
• 147th Fighter Group (1992–1995)
• 147th Fighter Interceptor Group (1958–1995)

Units assigned

• 147th Operations Group
  • 111th Reconnaissance Squadron
• 147th Maintenance Group
  • 147th Aircraft Generation Squadron
  • 147th Maintenance Squadron
• 147th Support Group
  • 147th Logistics Squadron
  • 147th Security Forces Squadron
  • 147th Civil Engineering Squadron
• 147th Medical Group

Aircraft Operated

• MQ-1 Predator (2007–Present)
• F-16C Fighting Falcon (1995–2007)
• C-26B Metroliner (1991–2007)
• F-16A/B Fighting Falcon ADF (1989–1995)
• F-4D Phantom II (1987–1989)
• F-4C Phantom II (1982–1987)
• F-101B/F Voodoo (1971–1982)
• F-102A Delta Dagger (1960–1974)
• F-86L Sabre (1959–1960)
• F-86D Sabre (1958–1959)
• T-33A Shooting Star (195?-???)
• F-80C Shooting Star (1955–1957)
• F-51H Mustang (1952–1955)
• F-84E Thunderstreak (1950–1952)
• P-51D Mustang (1947–1950)

External links

• 147th Reconnaissance Wing official website