179th Fighter Squadron

179th Fighter Squadron
179th Fighter Squadron Squadron Emblem
Active	1947-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Fighter
Part of	Air National Guard/Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Duluth International Airport
Nickname	Bulldogs

179th Fighter Squadron F-16s over Duluth IAP, 2002

179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron McDonnell F-4D-26-MC Phantom 65-0608, Duluth Air National Guard Base, Minnesota, 1989

A Minnesota ANG F-51D in the early 1950s.

The 179th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 148th Fighter Wing.

History

Lineage

• Constituted 393d Fighter Squadron on 26 May 1943

Activated on 15 Jul 1943

Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945

• Re-designated: 179th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Minnesota ANG, on 24 May 1946

Received federal recognition and activated on 17 September 1948

Federalized and placed on active duty, 2 March 1951

Re-designated: 179th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), 2 March 1951

Released from active duty and returned to Minnesota state control, 1 November 1952

Re-designated: 179th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 1976

Re-designated: 179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1983

Re-designated: 179th Fighter Squadron, 1992-Present

Assignments

• 367th Fighter Group, 15 July 1943-7 November 1945
• Minnesota Air National Guard, 24 May 1946

133d Fighter Group (ADC), 17 September 1948

133d Fighter Group (ConAC), 1 December 1948

133d Fighter Group (ADC), 1 January 1951

Federalized and placed on active duty under Air Defense Command, 2 March 1951

133d Fighter Group, 2 March 1951

31st Air Division, 6 February 1952

Released from active duty and returned to Minnesota state control, 1 November 1952

133d Fighter Group (ADC), 1 November 1952

148th Fighter Group (ADC), 1960

148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (TAC), 1976

148th Fighter-Interceptor Group (TAC), 1983

148th Fighter Group (ACC), 1992

148th Fighter Wing (ACC), 1995-Present

Stations

• Hamilton Field, California, 15 July 1943
• Santa Rosa Army Airfield, California, 11 October 1943
• Oakland Municipal Airport, California, 10 December 1943 – 8 March 1944
• RAF Stoney Cross (AAF-452) England, 5 April 1944
• RAF Ibsley (AAF-347), England, 6 July 1944
• Beuzeville Airfield (A-6), France, 22 July 1944
• Cricqueville Airfield (A-2), France, 14 August 1944
• Peray Airfield (A-44), France, 4 September 1944
• Clastres Airfield (A-71), France, 8 September 1944
• Juvincourt Airfield (A-68), France, 28 October 1944
• St-Dizier Airfield (A-64), France, 1 February 1945
• Conflans Airfield (A-94), France, 14 March 1945
• Eschborn Airfield (Y-74), Germany, 20 April – July 1945
• Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, September-7 November 1945
• Duluth International Airport, 1948

Designated: Duluth Air National Guard Base, 1991-Present

Tyndall Air Force Base (Detachment 1), 1995-Present

Aircraft

• F-16C Fighting Falcon (2003–Present)
• F-16A Fighting Falcon (1990–2003)
• F-4D Phantom II (1983–1990)
• RF-4C Phantom II (1976–1983)
• F-101 Voodoo (1971–1976)

• F-102 Delta Dagger (1967–1971)
• F-89J Scorpion (1969–1971)
• F-94C Starfire (1957–1969)
• F-94 Starfire (1954–1957)
• P-51 Mustang (1948–1954)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.

External links

• Minnesota Air National Guard Units