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183rd Fighter Wing

Illinois Air National Guard

Springfield, Illinois
87-0320 is currently marked as the 183rd Fighter Wing's flagship. It is seen here taxiing from its Capital Airport home base at the beginning of a training mission. The TARS pod beneath the jet is a new achievement for the unit. Several pods were received in the spring of 2006 as the 183rd was preparing for a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The first pair of F-16s touched down at Springfield's Capital Airport on June 7, 1989, marking the beginning of an exemplory history between the 183rd Fighter Wing and the Viper. Initially equipped with block 15 A & B models, the transition to the more modern and more capable block 30 F-16C/D took place in 1994. Since the upgrade, the Wing has been one of the busiest in the Air National Guard. Combat deployments have taken place in support of Operation Southern Watch four times, with deployments to Panama in support of Coronet Nighthawk taking place twice. In addition, the Wing has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom three times. Preparation for the combat deployments has required constant training, with almost annual trips to participate in Red Flag exercises held at Nellis AFB in Nevada.

Photo courtesy of the 183rd Fighter Wing, via Capt. Gurski.
Sentry White Falcon
The 183rd Fighter Wing deployed to Poland in June 2005 to assist the Polish Air Force train for their upcoming transition to the F-16. Dubbed Sentry White Falcon, the Wing deployed five F-16s (plus an additional two-seater borrowed from the 149th Fighter Wing) and personnel to Krzesiny Air Base, giving their Polish counterparts first-hand experience working with and around the F-16. It also gave the USAF pilots a chance to fly and fight against other aircraft types, including the Su-22 and MiG-29. The pilots flew escort, intercept, and
air-to-ground missions with the MiGs, while ground crews trained the Polish crews in maintenance on the F-16. Poland is scheduled to receive its first F-16 in 2007. A similar exerise took place in September 1997.

The Wing's most recent deployment took place in the summer of 2006. Deploying along with elements of the 115th and 187th Fighter Wings as part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (332nd EFS) to Balad AB, Iraq, the unit took part in counter-insurgency and close air support (CAS) missions in support of coalition troops on the ground. In preparation for this deployment, the 183rd accepted several TARS (Theatre Airborne Reconnaissance System) pods in the spring of 2006, and immediately began the process of crew certification and training. The 183rd Fighter Wing returned home to Springfield in August.

Typical of many ANG units throughout the country, the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closures) Committee has slated the 183rd for closure, and its aircraft transferred to other units. The details are still being worked out, but it looks like the USAF will lose yet another valuable, dedicated, and, most importantly, effective, fighter wing by 2010.

Several jets carry scoreboards beneath their cockpits that have been earned during recent deployments in support of the on-going War on Terror. From left, 87-0244, 87-0265, and 87-0275, show successful GBU-12 and GBU-38 drops.

Captain Sonja Gurski braved the cold on two separate occasions to escort me around the ramp, as well as arranged for Watchdog to drive me out to the runway for the launches. Many thanks to her, as well as the entire 183rd Fighter Wing team!

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