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188th commemorates 60 years of aviation, rich heritage in anniversary celebration

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing executive officer
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The times, they have always been a changing for the 188th Fighter Wing. From Ricks' Rippers to the Flying Razorbacks, the 188th has weathered the turbulence of change. Since the unit was federally recognized Oct. 15, 1953, the 188th has persevered through 16 different aircraft transitions, five different handles, hundreds of deployments and inspections and a Base Realignment and Closure Commission that was set to strip the unit of its flying mission. Beginning with 94 enlisted Airmen and 19 officers, the 188th, which began as the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, has endured the gamut of challenges during its 60 years of existence in Fort Smith, Ark.

The 188th, which now is composed of approximately 100 officers and 875 enlisted Airmen, recently commemorated those six decades of service with a 60th anniversary celebration in an event held at the wing's main hangar Nov. 2, 2013. The wing turned 60 on Oct. 15, 2013. Nearly 1,000 current and former unit members attended the event along with civic leaders and members of Arkansas' Congressional delegation.

The festivities featured Chaplain Brig. Gen. (Ret.) H.D. McCarty, a former 188th member, as the guest speaker. McCarty was the wing's chaplain from 1976-1984. The emcee of the event was local CBS affiliate KFSM 5NEWS meteorologist Garrett Lewis. Attendants also dined on local barbeque while enjoying a screening of the unit's "60 Years of Excellence" documentary, a short, 12-minute film showcasing the unit's highlights over the past six decades.

The 188th Fighter Wing/Fort Chaffee Community Council was also recognized with the National Guard Association of the United States' Patrick Henry Award, a prestigious national-level accolade that recognizes community support for the military. Col. Mark W. Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, also provided an update on the current mission conversion utilizing a slide show presentation format to elaborate on the unit's new remotely pilot aircraft, Intelligence and targeting mission.

"It was a great chance for our current members to meet some of the men and women who built this unit and made it what it is today," Anderson said. "It was also a chance for us to show our appreciation for those former and current members and many of our community supporters who have also played a critical role in ensuring a bright future for our wing and our Airmen. It was a fantastic event and we couldn't have hoped for a better turnout."

McCarty gave a speech that focused on "willing your pressures to truth." His speech focused on how to surmount myriad obstacles in life and related those ideals to the stresses associated with the 188th's current mission conversion, the most complex transition in unit history.

McCarty also recalled a recent graveside military honors ceremony over which he presided. It was the repatriation of Capt. Virgil Meroney's remains at the Fayetteville (Ark.) National Cemetery. A fighter pilot, Meroney was flying his F-4 Phantom in Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down. The 188th performed a four-ship missing man formation during the flyover for Meroney's ceremony. Anderson was the pilot who executed the missing man maneuver.

"I used to think the A-10 was the ugliest plane the Air Force had ever created," McCarty joked about the Warthog's rugged appearance. "But after I saw that A-10 break free from the formation to perform the missing man, I changed my mind. At that moment, it was the most beautiful plane I'd ever seen."

Attendants were given an up close view to decide for themselves. A static A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" was on display complete with pilots and maintenance personnel to explain the capabilities of the world's most adept close-air support machine.

"We had a packed house and a line around the building," Anderson said. "It was an outstanding way to celebrate the 188th's proud and rich history. It gave us all a chance to pause and reflect on many of the amazing accomplishments this unit has achieved over the years. There was no better way to celebrate our heritage than with our 188th family."

OVER THE YEARS
February 1951 -- Major Gen. Earl T. Ricks, deputy chief of the National Guard Bureau and chief of the Air Force Division, begins campaign for Arkansas to receive second Air Guard unit.

July 1953 -- Arkansas Gov. Francis Cherry announces Fort Smith as official site of the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. Original recruiting office set up at Chamber of Commerce.

Oct. 15, 1953 -- The 184th is officially activated with 19 officers and 94 enlisted.

Oct. 21, 1953 -- The 184th receives its first T-6D "Texan" trainer aircraft.

Jan. 29, 1954 -- The 184th received the RB-26B "Invader," the unit's first mission aircraft.

May 1954 -- Construction for new 184th facilities at Fort Smith Airport begins.

July 1954 -- The 184th attends first summer training camp in Gulfport, Miss.

Dec. 9, 1955 -- The 184th receives its first jet aircraft, the T-33A trainer.

Dec. 15, 1955 -- The 184th begins moving from Camp Chaffee to new facilities at the airport.

Feb. 11, 1956 -- The new 184th facilities are officially dedicated.

Sept. 5, 1956 -- The 184th receives its first three RF-80A mission aircraft, replacing the B-26.

Aug. 10, 1957 -- The first RF-84 "Thunderflash" aircraft arrive. They eventually replace the RF-80.

September 1957 -- The unit is federally activated in response to the integration crisis at Little Rock Central High School.

Dec. 30, 1959 -- Lt. Col. William Stanton, 184th squadron commander, is killed in a car wreck. Lt. Col. Edward Schneider is appointed the new commander in January.

Oct. 1, 1961 -- President John F. Kennedy activates the 184th for 324 days in response to the Berlin Crisis.

Oct. 18, 1962 -- The unit becomes the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.

Aug. 8-22, 1964 -- The 188th participates in "Operation Ready Go," to test the unit and Air National Guard's ability to deploy to Europe. It was the first overseas Air Guard summer training exercise.

July 18, 1965 -- Lt. Kathleen Booth becomes the first female to join the 188th.

Dec. 6, 1969 -- President Richard M. Nixon stops/lands at the 188th en route to Fayetteville for the University of Arkansas versus University of Texas football game.

Sept. 18, 1970 -- The 188th begins the transition from the RF-84 to the RF-101C.

April 28, 1972 -- The unit converts to the F-100D "Super Sabre" and is redesignated the 188th Tactical Fighter Group.

April 2, 1974 -- The Fort Smith Air National Guard base is renamed Ebbing Air National Guard Base in honor of Maj. Henry F. Ebbing, who died in a training mission Nov. 18, 1970.

May 2, 1975 -- The first of many Vietnamese Airlift flights arrive at the 188th for transfer of refugees to Chaffee.

Oct. 4, 1976 -- The 188th adopts its third officially recognized unit emblem, "Vigilias Agimus," (Latin: We are on guard) the first to feature a Flying Razorback, from which the unit takes its nickname.`

April 3, 1979 -- The 188th begins the conversion to the F-4C "Phantom."

May 9, 1980 -- The first Cuban refugees land at the 188th on their way to Chaffee. About 20,000 refugees passed through the 188th.

June 5, 1985 -- Maj. Doug Coleman and Capt. Richard Lumpkin were killed when their F-4 crashed near Parks, Ark., during a training mission.

Feb. 19. 1988 -- The 188th begins its conversion to the F-16 with the arrival of the first aircraft.

January 1991 -- Forty-five members of the 188th were activated for almost six months during Desert Shield/Storm to backfill the hospital at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Air Force Base.

March 16, 1992 -- The 188th Tactical Fighter Group is redesignated the 188th Fighter Group.

Dec. 17, 1993 -- Lt. Col. John Steward, Air Force adviser for the 188th, is killed in a midair collision with an F-15 Eagle near Brunswick, Ga., during a training exercise.

Oct. 1, 1995 --The 188th Fighter Group is redesignated the 188th Fighter Wing.

March 8, 1996 -- Twelve F-16s and 190 members of the 188th deploy to Italy in support of the Bosnian peace agreement. They return April 9, 1996.

February 1999 -- The 188th accepts its first female pilot trainee, Lt. Kristin Bass.

Sept. 11, 2001 -- F-16s from the 188th immediately begin flying air defense missions in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

October 2001 -- The 188th is put on alert as part of Operation Noble Eagle.

2002 -- Elements of the 188th are involved in multiple deployments to Southwest Asia, Central Asia and Germany throughout the year in support of Operating Enduring Freedom.

Oct. 15, 2003 -- The 188th celebrates its 50th anniversary.

May 11, 2004 -- President George W. Bush visits the 188th on his way to an appearance in Van Buren.

July 2004 -- An Arkansas National Guard spokesperson confirms a reorganization plan under consideration by the National Guard Bureau could remove the F-16s from the 188th.

May and June 2005 -- Two-hundred and seventy-six members of the 188th are deployed to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 2005 -- Less than a week after its first members deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Department of Defense recommends stripping the unit of its aircraft, pilots and primary mission.

July 11, 2005 -- Anthony Principi, chairman of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, visits the 188th after a commission hearing in San Antonio, where the fate of the 188th was discussed.

Aug. 26, 2005 -- The BRAC commission recommends replacing the F-16s at the 188th with the A-10.

Oct. 17, 2006 -- The first three F-16s depart the 188th.

April 14, 2007 -- The first A-10s arrive at the 188th.

July 5-28, 2009 -- About 300 members of the 188th train at Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, Ariz., in preparation for a scheduled 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

Oct. 9-23, 2009 -- About 200 members of the 188th train at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas in anticipation of the scheduled 2010 Afghanistan deployment.

March 8, 2010 -- More than 275 members of the 188th and 10 A-10s are deployed to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

November 2011 -- The adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard acknowledges the future of the 188th is uncertain in drastic budget cuts by the Department of Defense.

Feb. 3, 2012 -- The proposed Air Force budget for Fiscal Year 2013 proposes removing the 188th's A-10 mission and replaces it with a remotely piloted aircraft mission.

Feb. 11-26, 2012 -- About 300 members of the 188th train at Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, Ariz., in preparation for a scheduled 2012 deployment to Afghanistan.

March-July 2012 -- Nearly 400 members of the 188th are deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, serving three-month and six-month tours.

October 2012 -- The final members of the 188th deployed to Bagram return home.

December 2012 -- Congress approves a defense authorization bill removing A-10s from the 188th.

Jan. 17-18 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Director of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt visit the 188th to tour the wing's facilities and receive tour of base and Razorback Range.

February 2013 -- Col. Mark Anderson, 188th wing commander, says the 188th will receive targeting and intelligence missions in addition to the MQ-9 Reaper RPA mission.

Sept. 10, 2013 -- The first two A-10s (Tail Nos. 0644 and 0614) depart the 188th for Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.

Oct. 15, 2013 -- The 188th marks its 60th anniversary.

Nov. 6, 2013 -- Second pair of A-10s (Tail Nos. 0616 and 0642) depart 188th for Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.

188th commemorates 60 years of aviation, rich heritage in anniversary celebration

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing executive officer
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The times, they have always been a changing for the 188th Fighter Wing. From Ricks' Rippers to the Flying Razorbacks, the 188th has weathered the turbulence of change. Since the unit was federally recognized Oct. 15, 1953, the 188th has persevered through 16 different aircraft transitions, five different handles, hundreds of deployments and inspections and a Base Realignment and Closure Commission that was set to strip the unit of its flying mission. Beginning with 94 enlisted Airmen and 19 officers, the 188th, which began as the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, has endured the gamut of challenges during its 60 years of existence in Fort Smith, Ark.

The 188th, which now is composed of approximately 100 officers and 875 enlisted Airmen, recently commemorated those six decades of service with a 60th anniversary celebration in an event held at the wing's main hangar Nov. 2, 2013. The wing turned 60 on Oct. 15, 2013. Nearly 1,000 current and former unit members attended the event along with civic leaders and members of Arkansas' Congressional delegation.

The festivities featured Chaplain Brig. Gen. (Ret.) H.D. McCarty, a former 188th member, as the guest speaker. McCarty was the wing's chaplain from 1976-1984. The emcee of the event was local CBS affiliate KFSM 5NEWS meteorologist Garrett Lewis. Attendants also dined on local barbeque while enjoying a screening of the unit's "60 Years of Excellence" documentary, a short, 12-minute film showcasing the unit's highlights over the past six decades.

The 188th Fighter Wing/Fort Chaffee Community Council was also recognized with the National Guard Association of the United States' Patrick Henry Award, a prestigious national-level accolade that recognizes community support for the military. Col. Mark W. Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, also provided an update on the current mission conversion utilizing a slide show presentation format to elaborate on the unit's new remotely pilot aircraft, Intelligence and targeting mission.

"It was a great chance for our current members to meet some of the men and women who built this unit and made it what it is today," Anderson said. "It was also a chance for us to show our appreciation for those former and current members and many of our community supporters who have also played a critical role in ensuring a bright future for our wing and our Airmen. It was a fantastic event and we couldn't have hoped for a better turnout."

McCarty gave a speech that focused on "willing your pressures to truth." His speech focused on how to surmount myriad obstacles in life and related those ideals to the stresses associated with the 188th's current mission conversion, the most complex transition in unit history.

McCarty also recalled a recent graveside military honors ceremony over which he presided. It was the repatriation of Capt. Virgil Meroney's remains at the Fayetteville (Ark.) National Cemetery. A fighter pilot, Meroney was flying his F-4 Phantom in Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down. The 188th performed a four-ship missing man formation during the flyover for Meroney's ceremony. Anderson was the pilot who executed the missing man maneuver.

"I used to think the A-10 was the ugliest plane the Air Force had ever created," McCarty joked about the Warthog's rugged appearance. "But after I saw that A-10 break free from the formation to perform the missing man, I changed my mind. At that moment, it was the most beautiful plane I'd ever seen."

Attendants were given an up close view to decide for themselves. A static A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthog" was on display complete with pilots and maintenance personnel to explain the capabilities of the world's most adept close-air support machine.

"We had a packed house and a line around the building," Anderson said. "It was an outstanding way to celebrate the 188th's proud and rich history. It gave us all a chance to pause and reflect on many of the amazing accomplishments this unit has achieved over the years. There was no better way to celebrate our heritage than with our 188th family."

OVER THE YEARS
February 1951 -- Major Gen. Earl T. Ricks, deputy chief of the National Guard Bureau and chief of the Air Force Division, begins campaign for Arkansas to receive second Air Guard unit.

July 1953 -- Arkansas Gov. Francis Cherry announces Fort Smith as official site of the 184th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. Original recruiting office set up at Chamber of Commerce.

Oct. 15, 1953 -- The 184th is officially activated with 19 officers and 94 enlisted.

Oct. 21, 1953 -- The 184th receives its first T-6D "Texan" trainer aircraft.

Jan. 29, 1954 -- The 184th received the RB-26B "Invader," the unit's first mission aircraft.

May 1954 -- Construction for new 184th facilities at Fort Smith Airport begins.

July 1954 -- The 184th attends first summer training camp in Gulfport, Miss.

Dec. 9, 1955 -- The 184th receives its first jet aircraft, the T-33A trainer.

Dec. 15, 1955 -- The 184th begins moving from Camp Chaffee to new facilities at the airport.

Feb. 11, 1956 -- The new 184th facilities are officially dedicated.

Sept. 5, 1956 -- The 184th receives its first three RF-80A mission aircraft, replacing the B-26.

Aug. 10, 1957 -- The first RF-84 "Thunderflash" aircraft arrive. They eventually replace the RF-80.

September 1957 -- The unit is federally activated in response to the integration crisis at Little Rock Central High School.

Dec. 30, 1959 -- Lt. Col. William Stanton, 184th squadron commander, is killed in a car wreck. Lt. Col. Edward Schneider is appointed the new commander in January.

Oct. 1, 1961 -- President John F. Kennedy activates the 184th for 324 days in response to the Berlin Crisis.

Oct. 18, 1962 -- The unit becomes the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.

Aug. 8-22, 1964 -- The 188th participates in "Operation Ready Go," to test the unit and Air National Guard's ability to deploy to Europe. It was the first overseas Air Guard summer training exercise.

July 18, 1965 -- Lt. Kathleen Booth becomes the first female to join the 188th.

Dec. 6, 1969 -- President Richard M. Nixon stops/lands at the 188th en route to Fayetteville for the University of Arkansas versus University of Texas football game.

Sept. 18, 1970 -- The 188th begins the transition from the RF-84 to the RF-101C.

April 28, 1972 -- The unit converts to the F-100D "Super Sabre" and is redesignated the 188th Tactical Fighter Group.

April 2, 1974 -- The Fort Smith Air National Guard base is renamed Ebbing Air National Guard Base in honor of Maj. Henry F. Ebbing, who died in a training mission Nov. 18, 1970.

May 2, 1975 -- The first of many Vietnamese Airlift flights arrive at the 188th for transfer of refugees to Chaffee.

Oct. 4, 1976 -- The 188th adopts its third officially recognized unit emblem, "Vigilias Agimus," (Latin: We are on guard) the first to feature a Flying Razorback, from which the unit takes its nickname.`

April 3, 1979 -- The 188th begins the conversion to the F-4C "Phantom."

May 9, 1980 -- The first Cuban refugees land at the 188th on their way to Chaffee. About 20,000 refugees passed through the 188th.

June 5, 1985 -- Maj. Doug Coleman and Capt. Richard Lumpkin were killed when their F-4 crashed near Parks, Ark., during a training mission.

Feb. 19. 1988 -- The 188th begins its conversion to the F-16 with the arrival of the first aircraft.

January 1991 -- Forty-five members of the 188th were activated for almost six months during Desert Shield/Storm to backfill the hospital at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Air Force Base.

March 16, 1992 -- The 188th Tactical Fighter Group is redesignated the 188th Fighter Group.

Dec. 17, 1993 -- Lt. Col. John Steward, Air Force adviser for the 188th, is killed in a midair collision with an F-15 Eagle near Brunswick, Ga., during a training exercise.

Oct. 1, 1995 --The 188th Fighter Group is redesignated the 188th Fighter Wing.

March 8, 1996 -- Twelve F-16s and 190 members of the 188th deploy to Italy in support of the Bosnian peace agreement. They return April 9, 1996.

February 1999 -- The 188th accepts its first female pilot trainee, Lt. Kristin Bass.

Sept. 11, 2001 -- F-16s from the 188th immediately begin flying air defense missions in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

October 2001 -- The 188th is put on alert as part of Operation Noble Eagle.

2002 -- Elements of the 188th are involved in multiple deployments to Southwest Asia, Central Asia and Germany throughout the year in support of Operating Enduring Freedom.

Oct. 15, 2003 -- The 188th celebrates its 50th anniversary.

May 11, 2004 -- President George W. Bush visits the 188th on his way to an appearance in Van Buren.

July 2004 -- An Arkansas National Guard spokesperson confirms a reorganization plan under consideration by the National Guard Bureau could remove the F-16s from the 188th.

May and June 2005 -- Two-hundred and seventy-six members of the 188th are deployed to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 2005 -- Less than a week after its first members deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Department of Defense recommends stripping the unit of its aircraft, pilots and primary mission.

July 11, 2005 -- Anthony Principi, chairman of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, visits the 188th after a commission hearing in San Antonio, where the fate of the 188th was discussed.

Aug. 26, 2005 -- The BRAC commission recommends replacing the F-16s at the 188th with the A-10.

Oct. 17, 2006 -- The first three F-16s depart the 188th.

April 14, 2007 -- The first A-10s arrive at the 188th.

July 5-28, 2009 -- About 300 members of the 188th train at Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, Ariz., in preparation for a scheduled 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

Oct. 9-23, 2009 -- About 200 members of the 188th train at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas in anticipation of the scheduled 2010 Afghanistan deployment.

March 8, 2010 -- More than 275 members of the 188th and 10 A-10s are deployed to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

November 2011 -- The adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard acknowledges the future of the 188th is uncertain in drastic budget cuts by the Department of Defense.

Feb. 3, 2012 -- The proposed Air Force budget for Fiscal Year 2013 proposes removing the 188th's A-10 mission and replaces it with a remotely piloted aircraft mission.

Feb. 11-26, 2012 -- About 300 members of the 188th train at Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, Ariz., in preparation for a scheduled 2012 deployment to Afghanistan.

March-July 2012 -- Nearly 400 members of the 188th are deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, serving three-month and six-month tours.

October 2012 -- The final members of the 188th deployed to Bagram return home.

December 2012 -- Congress approves a defense authorization bill removing A-10s from the 188th.

Jan. 17-18 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Director of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt visit the 188th to tour the wing's facilities and receive tour of base and Razorback Range.

February 2013 -- Col. Mark Anderson, 188th wing commander, says the 188th will receive targeting and intelligence missions in addition to the MQ-9 Reaper RPA mission.

Sept. 10, 2013 -- The first two A-10s (Tail Nos. 0644 and 0614) depart the 188th for Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.

Oct. 15, 2013 -- The 188th marks its 60th anniversary.

Nov. 6, 2013 -- Second pair of A-10s (Tail Nos. 0616 and 0642) depart 188th for Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.