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122nd Fighter Wing

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122nd Fighter Wing
A F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing taxis at the Fort Wayne Indiana Air National Guard Base in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 20, 2023. The aircraft was the first to arrive at the base since conversion began in April.
Active1942–present
Country United States
Allegiance Indiana
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeWing
RoleClose Air Support
Part ofIndiana Air National Guard
Garrison/HQFort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana
Tail code"IN" Indiana
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Joshua C. Waggoner
Insignia
122nd Fighter Wing emblem
Aircraft flown
FighterF-16 Fighting Falcon

The 122nd Fighter Wing (122 FW sometimes 122nd) is a unit of the Indiana Air National Guard, stationed at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Fort Wayne, Indiana. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

Units

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  • 122nd Operations Group (Tail code formerly "FW," now "IN.")
163rd Fighter Squadron
  • 122nd Maintenance Group
  • 122nd Mission Support Group
  • 122nd Medical Group

History

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Ten original members of the 358th Fighter Group pose in front of the U.S. Air Force 122nd Fighter Wing's heritage jet at their final reunion, which was hosted by the 122nd Fighter Wing in Terre Haute AGB, Indiana in October 2008. The 358th FG, the "Orange Tails", was activated in January 1943. During the Second World War this unit was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations and the Croix de Guerre.
Republic P-47D-30-RA Thunderbolt Serial No. 44-33240 of the 356th Fighter Squadron

The 358th Fighter Group trained in the Mid-Atlantic United States with P-40 Warhawks, 1943. While in training also used for air defense of Philadelphia area. Moved to England during September and October 1943, they were equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts and began operations on 20 December 1943 and served in combat with Eighth and later, Ninth Air Forces until V-E Day.

In 2005 the wing introduced the reconnaissance Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System, becoming one of the first units to fly with it.

In 2008, after having flown for 17 years with the block 25 aircraft, these F-16s were nearing the end of their planned operational lifespans. The aircraft the 122nd received were only somewhat newer; Block 30 F-16C/Ds, manufactured between 1987 and 1989. These models were provided by the Michigan Air National Guard 107th Fighter Squadron, which was then transitioning to the A-10 Thunderbolt II at the time. With the upgrade to the Block 30 aircraft, the tail code of the 163rd was changed from "FW" (Fort Wayne) to "IN" (Indiana) in 2009 when the 181st Fighter Wing at Hulman Field became a non-flying unit. However, only a few of the F-16s were re-coded.

In 2009 – the year the unit honored its predecessor unit – the 358th FG – with a heritage jet – it was decided that the squadron was to retire their 20-year-old F-16s and become an A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron. The conversion happened in 2010.

In 2023, the unit converted back to the F-16 platform as a result of the National Defense Authorization Act. These started arriving in October 2023 and will continue until all 21 have arrived.

Lineage

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World War II 358th Fighter Group emblem
2006 Operation Iraqi Freedom patch
  • Constituted as 358th Fighter Group on 20 December 1942
Activated on 1 January 1943
Inactivated on 7 November 1945
  • Re-designated: 122nd Fighter Group and allocated to Indiana ANG on 24 May 1946
Extended federal recognition on 9 December 1946
Federalized and ordered to active service on: 10 February 1951
  • Established as 122nd Fighter-Interceptor Wing, extended federal recognition and activated on 10 February 1951
Group re-designated as 122nd Fighter-Interceptor Group and assigned as subordinate unit
Inactivated on 7 February 1952
Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 1 November 1952
  • Re-activated on 1 November 1952
Re-designated: 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 July 1954
Group re-designated 122nd Tactical Fighter Group
Re-designated: 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing (Special Delivery), 1 July 1959
Group re-designated 122nd Tactical Fighter Group (Special Delivery)
Federalized and ordered to active service on: 1 October 1961
Operated as: 7122nd Tactical Wing (Special Delivery), 1 October 1961 – 31 August 1962
Released from active duty and returned to Indiana state control, 31 August 1962
122nd Tactical Fighter Group inactivated 30 June 1974.
Re-designated: 122nd Fighter Wing, 16 March 1992 – present
Group re-activated and re-designated 122nd Operations Group

Assignments

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Attached to: Philadelphia Fighter Wing, 28 April–September 1943
Attached to: VIII Fighter Command, 20 October 1943
Attached to: IX Tactical Air Command, 1 August 1944
Attached to: IX Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1944
Gained by: Tenth Air Force, Continental Air Command
Gained by: Eastern Air Defense Force, Air Defense Command
Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1954
Attached to Seventeenth Air Force, 1 October 1961 – 31 August 1962
Gained by: Tactical Air Command
Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – present

Components

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  • 122nd Fighter-Interceptor (later Tactical Fighter) Group, 10 February 1951 – 30 June 1974
Re-designated: 163rd Operations Group, 16 March 1992 – present

Stations

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Aircraft

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  • Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
  • Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
  • McLaren, David. Republic F-84 Thunderjet, Thunderstreak & Thunderflash: A Photo Chronicle. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1998. ISBN 0-7643-0444-5.
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