142nd Fighter Wing

142nd Fighter Wing
An Oregon Air National Guard F-15C Eagle takes off from the Portland Air National Guard Base Oct. 2, 2010.
Active	1943–Present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Oregon
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Fighter/Air Defense
Part of	Oregon Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Oregon
Nickname(s)	Redhawks
Tail code	Red tail stripe "Redhawks" "Portland OR" with flying hawk graphic "Oregon"
Commanders
Current commander	COLONEL PAUL T. FITZGERALD
Insignia
142nd Fighter Wing emblem

The 142nd Fighter Wing (142 FW sometimes 142d) is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard, stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon.

As a state militia unit, the 142nd Fighter Wing is not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. It is under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Air National Guard unless it is federalized by order of the president of the United States. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

The 123rd Fighter Squadron assigned to the wing's 142nd Operations Group, is a descendant organization of 123rd Observation Squadron, formed 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.

The 142nd Fighter Wing participates around the globe supporting drug interdiction, USAFE air defense, as well as contingency operations such as Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The wing serves the nation, state, and community by providing mission-ready units, personnel, and equipment for:

Today the fighting "Redhawks" continue service as a component of the total force flying the F-15C/D, providing air defense and air superiority capabilities. With more than 1,000 officers and airmen, the unit guards the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canada–US border, on 24-hour alert as part of the North American Air Defense (NORAD) system.