124th Fighter Squadron

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124th Fighter Squadron

124th Fighter Squadron F-16 87-230.jpg

124th Fighter Squadron F-16 87-230
Active 25 February 1941-Present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
AllegianceFlag of Iowa.svg  Iowa
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
Type Squadron
Role Attack
Part of Iowa Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ Des Moines Air National Guard Base, Iowa
Nickname(s) "Hawkeyes"
Tail Code Red & Yellow (checkerboard) tail stripe "IA"
Engagements World War II
Insignia
124th Fighter Squadron emblem (approved 8 October 1952) [1] 124th Fighter Squadron emblem.jpg
124th Observation Squadron emblem [2] 124 Observation Sq emblem.png

The 124th Fighter Squadron (124 FS) is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard 132d Fighter Wing. It is assigned to Des Moines Air National Guard Base, Iowa and was formerly equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The unit is scheduled to transition to the operation of unmanned aerial aircraft.

Iowa Air National Guard

The Iowa Air National Guard is the air force militia of the State of Iowa, United States of America. It is, along with the Iowa Army National Guard, an element of the Iowa National Guard.

Des Moines Air National Guard Base

Des Moines Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Wing.

Contents

The squadron is a descendant organization of the 124th Observation Squadron, established on 30 July 1940. It is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

History

World War II

Efforts to form an Iowa National Guard aviation unit in Des Moines were led by a citizens’ committee, which was formed in May 1940, to arrange for construction of an aircraft hangar and armory building at the Des Moines Airport. This non-profit committee consisted of local business, civic and military leaders. Through the work of this committee, which included conferences in Washington DC, and design and financing of the project, an Air Corps squadron for Des Moines was authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in January 1941. Recruiting of members for the new unit began the following month. The 124th Observation Squadron was organized on 25 February 1941 with an allotted strength of 31 officers and 116 enlisted personnel.

The Iowa National Guard consists of the:

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president of the United States

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. A Democrat, he won a record four presidential elections and became a central figure in world events during the first half of the 20th century. Roosevelt directed the federal government during most of the Great Depression, implementing his New Deal domestic agenda in response to the worst economic crisis in U.S. history. As a dominant leader of his party, he built the New Deal Coalition, which realigned American politics into the Fifth Party System and defined American liberalism throughout the middle third of the 20th century. His third and fourth terms were dominated by World War II. He is often rated by scholars as one of the three greatest U.S. presidents, along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

The 124th was a light observation squadron, flying North American O-47 twin-seat observation monoplanes. Ordered to active service in September was initially an aviation unit at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as part of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. After the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, was attached to Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command and deployed to several airfields along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, flying Antisubmarine patrols, Apr 1942-Jan 1943. After the Navy took over the antisubmarine mission performed replacement reconnaissance pilot training, Mar 1943-Apr 1944 at Tullaholma, Tennessee with P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustangs. Inactivated as part of an administrative reorganization of training units in May 1944.

North American O-47

The North American O-47 is an American observation fixed-wing aircraft monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps. It had a low-wing configuration, retractable landing gear, and a three-blade propeller.

Fort Leavenworth United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas

Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth since it was annexed on April 12, 1977, in the northeast part of the state. Built in 1827, it is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas. Fort Leavenworth has been historically known as the "Intellectual Center of the Army."

Attack on Pearl Harbor Surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, led to the United States' formal entry into World War II. The Japanese military leadership referred to the attack as the Hawaii Operation and Operation AI, and as Operation Z during its planning.

Iowa Air National Guard

124th Fighter Squadron formation 1940s 124th Fighter Squadron formation 1940s.jpg
124th Fighter Squadron formation 1940s

Was transferred to the new Iowa Air National Guard in May 1946 and became a P-51D Mustang squadron, receiving federal recognition on 23 August 1946, one of the first Air National Guard squadrons activated. Assigned to Des Moines Municipal Airport, a former training field during World War II used as an Aircraft/Crew processing center for heavy bomber crews. Was assigned to the Iowa ANG 132d Fighter Wing, which consisted of the 124th, along with the 127th Fighter Squadron at Sioux City, and the Nebraska ANG 173d Fighter Squadron at Lincoln, Nebraska. Engaged in routine training exercises, and was upgraded to F-84B Thunderjet jet aircraft in early 1948.

Lincoln, Nebraska State capital city in Nebraska, United States

Lincoln is the capital of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers 94.267 square miles (244.150 km2) with a population of 284,736 in 2017. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 71st-largest in the United States. The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the state called the Lincoln Metropolitan and Lincoln-Beatrice Combined Statistical Areas. The statistical area is home to 353,120 people, making it the 106th-largest combined statistical area in the United States.

Activated to Federal Service during the Korean War, sent to Dow AFB, Maine Used by TAC to train replacement pilots in F-51D Mustang ground support operations, also deployed unit members to Japan and Korea to fly combat missions.

Korean War 1950–1953 war between North Korea and South Korea

The Korean War was a war between North Korea and South Korea. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of clashes along the border.

124th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 70-1010 about 1979 124th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 70-1010 Iowa ANG.jpg
124th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D 70-1010 about 1979

The 132d was moved to Alexandria AFB, Louisiana in May 1952 again with F-51s replacing the federalized Oklahoma ANG 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing which was deployed to France. Performed training as a tactical fighter unit until relieved from active service and returned to Iowa ANG jurisdiction in January 1953.

During 1952, over one million dollars of federally funded improvements were added to the Des Moines airport. The work included the addition of 1,800 feet to the main runway and 3,480 feet of taxiways to better accommodate the 124th receiving jet aircraft upon their return to peacetime service. After returning to Des Moines, was re-equipped with F-80C Shooting Star jet fighter-bombers and returned to normal peacetime training committed to Tactical Air Command. Was later upgraded to newer F-84E Thuderjets in 1955. Was transferred to Air Defense Command in July 1958, becoming an all-weather F-86L Sabre Interceptor squadron, its new mission being the air defense of Des Moines and eastern Iowa. The Sabres were replaced in 1962 with F-89J Scorpion Interceptors, which the squadron flew until the summer of 1969.

Was transferred back to TAC in 1969, being re-equipped with second-line F-84F Thunderstreaks, the standard TAC aircraft for its Air National Guard-gained squadrons at the time. Upgraded to the F-100D Super Sabre, which were returning from South Vietnam in 1971 and being transferred to the ANG to replace the subsonic F-84s. Began receiving new and transferred A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft in 1976 when the National Guard Bureau began modernizing the ANG with frontline aircraft after the drawdown of the regular Air Force after the end of the Vietnam War.

Modern era

TSgt. Mike Johanns, dedicated crew chief from the 132nd FW ANG, Des Moines, Iowa, waits to marshal F-16C block 42 #89-2045 of the 124th FS during Red Flag 06-02 at Nellis AFB on 15 August 2006 124th Fighter Squadron General Dynamics F-16C Block 42E Fighting Falcon 89-2045.jpg
TSgt. Mike Johanns, dedicated crew chief from the 132nd FW ANG, Des Moines, Iowa, waits to marshal F-16C block 42 #89-2045 of the 124th FS during Red Flag 06-02 at Nellis AFB on 15 August 2006

With the retirement of the A-7Ds in the late 1980s, was upgraded to Block 42 F-16C Fighting Falcons in 1990. From 1998 to 2004 as part of the Air Expeditionary Force concept with an unprecedented six overseas contingency deployments to patrol the No-Fly Zone over Iraq in Operations Northern and Southern Watch. Two of the six contingency deployments occurred within a ten-month period, attesting to the unit’s professionalism and high state of readiness.

Immediately following the events of September 11, 2001, the 124th Fighter Squadron's F-16s, pilots, and maintenance members were placed on alert, poised to defend Iowans and all Americans against any possible attacks. After 9/11 the unit’s F-16s were prepared to launch within minutes in the event of a “scramble” order – 24/7. The unit has also provided continuous Combat Air Patrols during Presidential visits.

The unit deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar in 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron performed in an exceptional manner, exhibiting an impressive array of capabilities. Outstanding leadership and superb aircraft maintenance skills produced 456 sorties and 3145 flying hours in austere conditions. Total flying hours during this contingency equaled to over three-fourths of a year’s normal flying allocation in only 52 days.

In 2013, the 124th's 21 F-16s were transferred to the 119th Fighter Squadron, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, bringing to an end 72 years of manned flight by the 124th. [3] The squadron is scheduled to transition to the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle.

Operations and Decorations

Antisubmarine patrols, Apr 1942-Jan 1943
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Lineage

Activated on 25 Feb 1941
Ordered to active service on 15 Sep 1941
Re-designated: 124th Observation Squadron (Light) on 13 Jan 1942
Re-designated: 124th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Re-designated: 124th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943
Re-designated: 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1942
Disbanded on 1 May 1944
Extended Federal recognition on 23 Aug 1946
Ordered into active service on 1 April 1951
Re-designated: 124th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in June 1952
Relieved from active duty and returned to Iowa ANG, on 1 Jan 1953
Re-designated: 124th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Jul 1958
Re-designated: 124th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 2 Aug 1969
Re-designated: 124th Fighter Squadron on 15 Mar 1992

Assignments

Attached to: I Bomber Command, 3 Jul-15 Oct 1942
Attached to: AAF Antisubmarine Command, 15 Oct-20 Nov 1942
Attached to: 26th Antisubmarine Wing, 20 Nov 1942-4 Jan 1943

Stations

Aircraft

See also

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References

Notes
  1. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 349
  2. ↑ Hubbard, p. 120
  3. ↑ http://www.radioiowa.com/2013/08/22/iowas-f-16s-bound-for-new-jersey/

Bibliography

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